Sports professions a key move, say officials

Manama, July 9 (BNA): Members of the Parliament Council and other officials thanked His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa for declaring sports professions as official professions in Bahrain. This was announced after His Majesty has awarded professional bodybuilder Sami Al Haddad the first passport to be given to a Bahraini citizen with "professional athlete" as an official profession recently. They said the decision reflects the sharp vision of His Majesty and his support to Bahraini athletes in all sports, which has contributed to various achievements in different fields of sports. Information Affairs minister Ali Al Romaihi stressed that the application of sports professionalism will generate a sense of comfort within the athletes and will promote his motivation for sports excellence. He said that the promotion of sports to become a profession is a step in the right direction in an attempt to boost sports movement in the Kingdom. Parliament Council member Ghazi Al Rahma noted the support of 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 the Kingdom's strategy to implement sports professionalism. Bahrain Weight Lifting Association president Sultan Al Ghanem said that its speedy adoption and implementation comes owing to the belief of HM in the importance of applying professionalism in the area of sports for this area in Bahrain. He said that the decision will bring ‘wonderful results’ to sports careers for many Bahraini athletes and would help them develop their skills to become eligible to compete on an international level. Parliament Public Utilities and Environment Affairs Committee chairman Adel Al Asoomi noted that the implementation of this strategy to classifying sports professionalism will pave the way for upgrading this important sector in accordance with the ingredients of sports professionalism and its positive effects. He said that the implementation of sport professionalism and support from the highest authority in the country, represented by His Majesty the King, is an honour and a proud moment for all Bahrain athletes.