Emirates Airlines deal boost for BOC

Manama, June 9 (BNA): Emirates Airlines became the official carriers of Bahrain’s delegation to the 2016 Olympic Games taking place in Rio de Janeiro, in Brazil this summer. The nationals will fly to the South American country later this summer with the Dubai-based airline for the two-week prestigious event, scheduled to take place from August 5 to 21. Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) general secretary Abdulrahman Askar and Emirates Airlines’ Country Manage Tariq Al Mutawa signed the sponsorship deal at the meeting, in the presence of Bahrain chef de mission Yousef Abdulaqader at the committee premises in Seef yesterday (Thursday). Askar said the agreement is a major step towards securing the trip for members of the Bahrain delegation to Brazil, and thanked the airlines for stepping up to offer its sponsorship. The BOC general secretary extended his appreciation and gratitude for the initiative brought up by Emirates, which is considered one of the world’s best airlines in terms of premium services and comfort. On his part, Al Mutawasaid he is pleased with this agreement and the partnership established with the BOC, and commended the committee’s role in leading sports movement in Bahrain and hoped for this cooperation to continue in the future. The Kingdom of Bahrain is set to make its biggest ever appearance at the Olympics this summer with more than 30 athletes to take part in four sports competitions – athletics, swimming, shooting and wrestling. Having competed in eight summer Olympic Games, Bahrain won their first Olympic medal, a bronze medal in the women’s 1,500m run by Maryam Yusuf Jamal at the 2012 London Olympics.