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Bahrain celebrated the 2016 Olympic Day on Friday (May 27) with thousands of participants and visitors flocking to the Bahrain International Circuit in Sakhir to witness a well-packed programme marking this special occasion.
The concluding day of this two-week-long event, organised by the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), is celebrated all over the world on June 23 every year, but this year’s edition held in Bahrain in advance as the original date is due to take place during Ramadan.
Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, His Majesty the King’s representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman, BOC president and event patron, declared the start of the final day activities, in the presence of Supreme Council general secretary and BOC vice-president Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa.
Shaikh Nasser, along with BOC general secretary Abdulrahman Askar and other high-ranking sports officials from the BOC and sports clubs and federations, toured the venue where a variety of activities took place.
“This occasion is a celebration for youth around the world to observe the Olympic values of fair play, perseverance, respect and sportsmanship,” said Shaikh Nasser.
“Our purpose of bringing the event is to celebrate the three pillars of the International Olympic Committee: Move, Learn and Discover. It is also to share the international Olympic community its efforts in promoting the principles of Olympism and the noble human values”.
The day’s main activities included a four-category running race as well as an open cycling race, organized in cooperation with the Bahrain Roadrunners and the Bahrain Cycling Association.
Face coloring, parachute airshow, karate and judo performances, best looking motorbike contest, children competitions and games were other sets of activities which took place on the day.
But the main attraction of the day was the running race, in which more than 300 men and women athletes of different ages and nationalities were in the fray.
Mousa Kareem topped the men’s 19-39 age category race after a dominant show. Behind him were Abdullatif Ayat in second place and Ahmed Joda was third.
In the women’s races, Zahra Mohammed (19-39 years) and Kizzy Price (15-18 years) raced to deserving victories in the respective categories held under warm weather conditions.
Bahrain’s national team cycling ace Sayed Ahmed Khalil captured victory in the 30-39 years race. He was followed by Mansoor Mohammed and Yahya Aldeeb in second and third places, respectively.
In the women’s division, Muneera Sameer topped the race against runner up Khulood Abdulaziz and third-placer Amal Sameer.
There was also a race for people with special needs as Noora Al Dossary came first, with Yasmine Saad second and Fatma Abdulrazzaq third.
The day concluded with Askar honouring the winners of all the competitions, and thanked the following companies – Al Khalaf Internatonal, Gulf Air and La Shish Restaurant – for supporting this year’s Olympic Day, and all those who spared no efforts in making this event an all-round success.
