The Schools Olympic Programme (SOP) has awarded seven top schools during a ceremony marking the closing of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) sports season.
Qatar Olympic Committee officials with representatives from local schools at the season’s closing ceremony
The ceremony on Monday, headed by QOC Secretary-General Sheikh Saoud bin Abdurahman al-Thani, took place in Qatar Olympic Committee premises and was attended by school principals, teachers, students and their parents.
The schools that excelled in the 2011-2012 SOP season in the girls category are: Qatar Primary School, Moza bin Mohamed Elementary School, MES Indian School, and Um Ayman Secondary School.
As for boys, the Tunisian School achieved two titles: Top Typical school and top Primary School for boys. The other two schools are Hamzah bin Abdulmutalib Elementary School, and Hamad bin Abdullah Secondary School.
On the occasion, SOP executive director Mohamed al-Fadhala, said: “We extend our warm wishes to the top schools for this great achievement and we encourage more schools to take part in the Schools Olympic Programme.”
Al-Fadhala added: “Our aim is to inspire our children to practice sport at an early age. We will work hand in hand with schools and community to spread a sport culture in Qatar.”
QOC head of media Hassan al-Mohammadi said: “We promise schools and parents an exciting School Olympic Programme in the upcoming edition and we call upon our community to join us in all activities. We congratulate all schools who excelled in the previous edition.”
On the sidelines of the ceremony, Tunisian School physical education teacher Lotfi Bendhafer said: “We are extremely delighted to win two titles in SOP, which is a leading initiative in school sports in terms of number of students, logistics support, and funding. We should highlight young sport talents and give them more opportunities.”
“Sports and Investment” was selected recently as the theme of the School Olympic Programme (SOP) for the upcoming academic year 2012-2013.
The theme aims to highlight ways of transforming individual interest in sports into highly profitable investment projects for society as a whole.
Through sport competitions and community events, the SOP aims to reinforce the links between sport and investment.