School Mini Olympiad starts Thursday

Manama, Apr. 20 (BNA): The third edition of the School Mini Olympiad will start Thursday at 9:30 a.m. in the Volleyball Association's Gym Hall in Isa Sports City, under the patronage of Member of Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), Shaikh Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa. The organising committee of the Third School Mini Olympiad has put its final touches on the annual event, scheduled to take place from April 21 until May 5. More than 3,000 students of 24 including 16 government and 18 private schools will be taking part in the third edition of the games, featuring a record nine sports disciplines. The third edition of the Mini Olympics is organized by the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education. This year will bring three team sports events, namely football, basketball and volleyball, in addition to athletics, swimming, table tennis, taekwondo, aquathlon and running race. As a build up to this year's Mini Olympics, Coordination and Follow-up Committee head Mamoon Al Khateeb said the organising committee has addressed all ministries as well as King Hamad Hospital and other relevant authorities to step up their preparations in organising this year's gathering. Al Khateeb praised the cooperation of government authorities, and noted that this cooperation comes in line with the keenness of all parties to ensure the success of the Mini Olympics this ear. He added that following up the procedures and arrangements are made in accordance to the directives of BOC general secretary Abdulrahman Askar, who extended the importance of step up the efforts to put together a remarkably organised and memorable event. Al Khateeb also hailed the decision to include two new disciplines this year – taekwondo and aquathlon, in a move that aims to expand their foundation among the younger generation of Bahrain sport society. It's worth noting that the School Mini Olympics seeks to promote the concept of public health and creating a competitive sports environment among students, spreading knowledge and physical education among the younger generation, besides the principles of Olympic values and ideals. It also seeks to motivate them to practice sports activities and follow a healthy life style. Source: Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC)