Doha, Qatar, October 28, 2019: The organising committee of the Qatar Olympic Committee’s 13th Schools Olympic Programme (SOP) announced that the opening ceremony would be held at Aspire Zone on Monday.
The announcement came during a press conference at the QOC HQ on Sunday attended by senior SOP officials, including HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Khalid Al-Thani, Chairman of the SOP Organising Committee.
HE Sheikh Khalifa thanked the former SOP organising committee, headed by HE Rabea Al Kaabi, President of Qatar School Sports Association, and Mr. Ali Al Hitmi, QSSA Secretary General, for their efforts.
In his opening speech on Sunday, HE Sheikh Khalifa described the SOP as one of the most significant and important projects in supporting sport in the country since the school year 2007-2008.
HE Sheikh Khalifa also appreciated the efforts made annually by former SOP officials and staff to make the SOP a pioneering and successful sports event today.
The SOP, which is a national programme that covers all Qatari schools, will be held in the next six months.
The competition is held annually as a collaborative effort between the Qatar School Sports Association and Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
The SOP aims to spread a culture of sport throughout the schools and engage the entire community in an active and healthy lifestyle while retaining local values and traditions.
Last year's edition featured 12 sports — football, basketball, volleyball, handball, tennis, table tennis, fencing, gymnastics, athletics, swimming, chess and taekwondo.
This year's event will feature 12 sports in the boys section and 13 in the girls category.
The SOP is in line with other initiatives undertaken by Qatar as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Last year, 14,700 students from 333 schools took part.