Hasnaa Al-Ayoubi, Executive Director of the International School Sports Federation, expressed her delight at the Kingdom of Bahrain’s exceptional success in hosting the International School Games from October 23 to 31, under the royal patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. The event brought together over 5,500 participants from around the world, marking a historic achievement for school sports.
“Bahrain did an outstanding job in organising an event that brought together top athletes to compete in school sports,” Al-Ayoubi said. She highlighted that alongside the competitions, Bahrain hosted valuable initiatives focused on anti-doping, participant protection, and the training of physical education teachers, aligning with the vision of the largest school games event in history. Representatives from the International Federation in Switzerland conducted training sessions for local PE teachers, further broadening the event’s impact.
Al-Ayoubi also praised Bahrain’s Executive Committee and working committees for their meticulous preparations, which included organizing national competitions within each participating country to select top athletes, contributing to the high level of competition confirmed by school sports federations worldwide.
She expressed hope that these efforts would develop young athletes’ skills, equipping them for future participation in the Olympic Games—a central objective of such events. Al-Ayoubi noted that Bahrain’s hosting announcement garnered widespread attention globally, especially from regions such as the Arab world, North and South Africa, Europe, the Americas, and Oceania, and the event provided an opportunity for many delegations to experience Bahraini culture.
To enrich participants’ experience, Bahrain organised a cultural day, allowing competitors to explore key landmarks, particularly the capital, Manama. The cultural exchange left a lasting impression, with many expressing their joy at the experience. Al-Ayoubi extended her gratitude to the Kingdom for its hospitality.
She confirmed that this edition set a new attendance record with 5,500 participants, making it the largest school games event ever held, and expressed her deep appreciation to Bahrain for hosting this landmark event.
