Faris Al Mutawa: The election of six UAE nationals to the working committees of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) marks a historic milestone, reflecting the significant progress of the UAE’s Olympic movement.
The UAE has established a clear path and strong foundation for representation in leading continental and international sports organisations.
Empowering UAE nationals to take on leadership roles remains a strategic priority for the National Olympic Committee.
The National Olympic Committee (NOC) commended the election of six of its nominees to the working committees of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA). The OCA elections, held on 8 September in Delhi, India, were part of the Council’s 44th General Assembly and included electing the president and vice presidents for East, South, Southeast, Central, and West Asia.
Among the UAE nominees, His Excellency Fahd Al Shamsi assumed the role of Vice President of the Committee for Electronic Sports and Martial Arts. Additionally, His Excellency Abdulaziz Al Salman was elected to the Information and Statistics Committee, Her Excellency Khulood Al Dhaheri to the Sport for All Committee, His Excellency Rashid bin Markhan to the Sport and Environment Committee, His Excellency Salem Al Mazrouei to the Peace through Sport Committee, and Her Excellency Jamila Abdullah to the Delegations Accompanying Committee.
His Excellency Faris Mohammed Al Mutawa, Secretary General of the NOC, remarked, “This accomplishment reflects the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai and President of the National Olympic Committee, who has emphasised the importance of providing opportunities for UAE nationals to represent the nation within major sports organisations. Such representation enhances the UAE’s influence in the Olympic community by contributing to decision-making and reinforcing the trust and competence of Emiratis, as well as their extensive expertise in the sports arena.
“Empowering and supporting UAE nationals in representing the country at major events is a collective responsibility,” Al Mutawa continued. “The UAE has created a clear pathway and strong foundation for honourable representation in prominent sports and other organisations. The National Olympic Committee has thoroughly reviewed the qualifications of all candidates before submitting their names to the Olympic Council of Asia by the specified deadlines, which has led to this commendable achievement for the UAE."
He further noted, “The NOC’s General Secretariat established an internal board committee after the OCA opened nominations for its permanent working committees. This committee assessed each candidate from the UAE’s pool of sports talents, recognising that securing membership within the OCA’s permanent committees represents a significant strategic asset for the UAE’s sports sector and national Olympic movement.”
Al Mutawa added that the NOC managed the candidacy process with a strategic approach, aligning each candidate’s expertise with the committee best suited to their qualifications. “This alignment strengthened their chances of securing seats, thereby advancing the Olympic movement within Asia. “Our approach ensured competition for the largest possible number of seats within the sports committees, maximising representation of the UAE’s national sports leaders,” he concluded.
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