Under the patronage and presence of His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Vice President of the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports, President of the General Sports Authority, and President of the Bahrain Olympic Committee, the International Center of Excellence for Water Sports was opened yesterday at the Bahrain University of Technology, in the presence of the President of the International Federation of Water Sports (World Aquatics) and a number of Their Highnesses, Excellencies, guests and invitees.
This project is one of the most prominent joint sports initiatives between the International Federation of Water Sports and the Bahrain Olympic Committee, in partnership with the supporting GFH Group. The center aims to develop the water sports system in the region, embrace young talent, and provide a world-class training environment in accordance with the highest international standards.
On this occasion, His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa expressed his pride in opening this center, stressing that the project embodies Bahrain’s vision of consolidating its position as a regional center for sports excellence.
His Highness said: “The opening of the International Center of Excellence for Water Sports represents an advanced step in the process of developing water sports in the Kingdom of Bahrain and the region and creating the ideal environment for athletes from different countries of the world.”
His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa added that this center will be a platform for graduating future champions in water sports and a pillar of sustainable cooperation between Bahrain and the International Federation of Water Sports.
For his part, Mr. Hussein Al-Musallam stressed that the opening of the center in Bahrain constitutes an important milestone in the International Federation’s strategy to expand the base of water sports globally.
Al-Musallam said: “We are pleased to celebrate today the launch of this model project in the Kingdom of Bahrain, which has proven its ability to host and organize the most prominent continental and international sporting events. The Center of Excellence in Bahrain will be a platform for qualifying technical and administrative cadres and developing athletes from various Asian countries and the world, and represents a model of fruitful cooperation between sports institutions and the private sector.”
His Highness Sheikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa toured the center’s facilities, during which he viewed the modern Olympic swimming pool, training and rehabilitation halls, players’ rooms and study halls, praising the project’s engineering and technical level.
The ceremony included a speech by Dr. Hassan Al-Mulla, President of Bahrain University of Technology, in which he said that the center represents a decisive moment in the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to excellence in sports, innovation and education, and that it is a vision that combines technology, talent, determination and the spirit of teamwork to create a new generation of champions and provide opportunities for young people, as sports are integrated with education to build comprehensive elite athletes capable of competing at the highest international levels.
He added, “This academic year we received the first batch of athletes, and by January of this year, 35 athletes from 31 countries representing 5 continents will join the university, to study and train in this world-class facility, to be a beacon of excellence for Bahrain and the entire world, and a place to transcend borders, train and learn.”
The ceremony also witnessed a speech by Syrian champion Omar Abbas, in which he said, “Just one year ago, I achieved my dream of representing my country, Syria, in the men’s 200-meter freestyle at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games…Standing on that stage and hearing the crowds cheer was a moment I will never forget as long as I live.”
He added, “And today, as I stand here in this amazing center of excellence at the International Aquatics Center in Bahrain, I feel the same flame of purpose — because this place embodies opportunity, dedication, and the future of our sport… Thank you for believing in us, and for creating a space where athletes can train, study, and dream all at once.”
