BOC puts final touches to plan

Manama, Dec. 31 (BNA): Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) said it was putting final touches on a plan to transport thousands of Bahrain fans to Kuwait to support the Bahrain national football team in the semifinals of the 23rd Arabian Gulf Cup Championship (Khaleeji23) . Supreme Council for Youth and Sports deputy general-secretary and Bahrain Olympic Committee general secretary Abdulrahman Askar and Bahrain Football Association deputy chairman Shaikh Khalid bin Salman Al Khalifa had discussions on facilitating the transportation of supporters to Kuwait via road in time as Bahrain takes on Oman in their final match. The two sides decided to provide 10 buses traveling to Kuwait for families wishing to attend the game and will provide three free meals per person during the entire trip. BOC also reached agreement with SAPTCO to set up a number of cheering banners, sign boards and giant Bahrain flags at the stadium to boost the players’ morale in the match. A massive campaign to transport thousands of Bahrain supporters to Kuwait via air and road was launched over the weekend after Bahrain had secured its place in the semifinals. This initiative was set up by HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman, and BOC President, to support the team in the region’s most prestigious sporting event. Bahrain qualified for the competition’s last four with two 1-1 draws against Iraq and Qatar, between which they registered a hard-fought 1-0 win over Yemen in their four-nation Group ‘B’.