?The Union of Arab National Olympic Committees’ Arab Sport Pioneers Association (ASPA) course is got underway on Sunday at S Hotel in Seef area.
Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) board member and Women’s Sport Committee chairwoman Shaikha Hayat bint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa was the patron for the event, which continues until September 21.
The first session, which tips of at 10am, focused on the definition, requirements and regulations of sport professionalism. It was also presented by a team of highly-qualified academics, led by Dr Mohammed Ruwaished of Saudi Arabia.
Other spokesmen for the opening sessions included Dr Mohammed Diyabat of Jordan, Dr Aziz Kareem of Iraq, and Bahrain’s Dr Abdulrahman Sayyar and Nabeel Taha.
Dr Diabat highlighted the importance of the financial support to reach professionalism in sports as well as building a matured mentality in order to achieve professionality at all levels.
Dr Diabat also spoke about the difference between amateur and professional sports teams, noting that amateurs only participates in a sport to achieve pleasure and enjoyment, while professional players seek financial sources by competing at higher level of sports.
Sessions continue on Monday with Dr Aziz Kareem speaking about the rights and duties of a professional athlete from 10.30am onwards.
This week-long course will also hold discussions related to sport professionalism as well as its requirement, regulations, rights, duties and effect of sport professionalism on the athlete life.
It is being brought in cooperation with the Bahrain Olympic Committee, which formed a committee to prepare for the sessions.
This committee is headed by BOC executive director for sports affairs Abduljalil Asad and includes members Mohammed Al Balooshi, Hasan Ali, Fai Buallai, Jalal Al Mukhtar, Fatma Al Saqer and Hasan Juma.
