Bahrain to host World MMA Amateurs Championship2017

Manama, Feb. 7 (BNA): Under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, Honorary President of the Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Association (BMMAA), Founder of Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa Mixed Martial Arts (KHK MMA) Organization, a press conference was held Monday to officially announce Bahrain's hosting the fourth edition of the World Championships of Amateur MMA. The championship will be organized by the International Mixed Martial Arts Federation (IMMAF) in cooperation with the Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Association, in November. On this occasion His Highness gave a statement by saying: "We express our pride at the Kingdom of Bahrain hosting to the fourth edition of the World Championships of Amateur MMA, which will be held for the first time in an Arabian country in the Asian continent after the city of Las Vegas having held the first three editions of this championship." HH Shaikh Khalid added: "The hosting is clear confirmation of the efforts of His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of Bahrain Olympic Committee in translating the vision of the wise leadership to attract World Championships to Bahrain, which contributed to strengthening its position on the global sports map." His Highness continued: "Through our efforts, we seek to strengthen the steps taken by HH Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, in creating plans to continue the development of the Youth & Sports Sector in the Kingdom, and to turn Bahrain into a global sports destination through establishing more international championships, especially in MMA." HH Shaikh Khalid said that the establishment of the fourth World Championships of Amateur MMA in the Kingdom of Bahrain is clear evidence to successful steps taken by His Highness, aimed to promote the culture of the sport in the region, which contribute to its development, through participations in various gatherings and championships. His Highness said: "The Kingdom of Bahrain has always been proactive in hosting many international sports event, and is able to showcase these events successfully. There is no doubt that Bahrain will utilize all means to support the fourth edition of this tournament." His Highness praised the IMMAF step to grant Bahrain the hosting rights, stressing that it is a clear step to straighten the joint cooperation between Bahrain and IMMAF. The Kingdom of Bahrain hosting fourth edition of the World Championships of Amateur MMA comes under the initiatives of HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, as His Highness is keen on supporting this sport through the hosting of a world championship that sees wide participation by Bahraini youth. The press conference was attended by Hisham Mohammed Al Jowder, Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs, Col. Abdul Hakeem Al-Shino, President of the International Military Sports Council (CISM), Abdulrahman Sadiq Askar, Assistant Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports and Secretary General of the Bahrain Olympic Committee. The conference was also attended by an IMMAF delegation including Kerrith Brown, IMMAF Board President, Densign White, IMMAF CEO, Wesam Abi Nader, IMMAF Board Member, Col. Khalid Abdulaziz Al Khayat, Interior's Ministry Public Security Sports Association President and President of the Bahrain Mixed Martial Arts Association, several officials from the Youth & Sports sector in the Kingdom, BMMAA members, athletes from the Kingdom, MMA Fans, media representatives from Bahrain, Arab and foreign media, conference guests which included Qatari media person Mohammad Saadon Al-Kuwari from BEIN SPORT, Ghada Musalli, presenter of 'Good Morning Arabs' on MBC TV channel and Ali Qarni, Head of the Sports Section in Sky News Arabia.