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Over the past decade, His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), has cemented Qatar’s status as a global sporting power, setting a benchmark in modern sports governance defined by ambition, professionalism and excellence.These achievements have paved the way for Sheikh Joaan’s election by acclamation as President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) at the General Assembly in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, Monday, with no other candidates contesting the post.Since assuming the QOC presidency on May 7, 2015, HE Sheikh Joaan has overseen one of the most transformative periods in the committee’s history. Under his leadership, Qatar recorded its best-ever Olympic performance at the Tokyo 2020 Games, winning three medals for the first time - gold through Mutaz Barshim in the high jump and Fares Ibrahim in weightlifting, and bronze in beach volleyball.Beyond results, Qatar has evolved into a global hub for major sporting events. The country secured the hosting rights for the 2030 Asian Games, reflecting international confidence in its infrastructure, organisational expertise and long-term vision.HE Sheikh Joaan’s influence extends regionally and internationally through his role as First Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), alongside his focus on developing sports administrators and professionals through the Qatar Olympic Academy.During his tenure, Qatar hosted a series of world-class events, including the Men’s Handball World Championship (2015), World Boxing Championship (2015), World Athletics Championships (2019), ANOC World Beach Games (2019), FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, World Judo Championships (2023) and World Aquatics Championships (2024).At the continental and regional levels, Doha staged the AFC Asian Cup (2023), FIFA Arab Cup Qatar (2021 and 2025), AFC U-23 Asian Cup (2024) and the first Gulf Youth Games (2024),The QOC’s annual calendar continues to feature elite competitions such as the Diamond League athletics series, ATP and WTA tennis tournaments, the Al Shaqab equestrian tour, the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix and the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix.During Sheikh Joaan’s tenure, Qatar secured the hosting rights for several major sporting events, strengthening its standing on the international stage. Most notably, he chaired the successful bid to host the 2030 Asian Games, bringing the event back to Doha for a second time after 2006, and oversaw the awarding of the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which will be staged in Doha for the first time in the region and North Africa.HE Sheikh Joaan also chaired the successful bid to bring the Asian Games back to Doha in 2030, following the landmark 2006 edition, and played a central role in securing the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup - the first time the tournament will be hosted in the region and North Africa.Looking ahead, the QOC’s 2026 calendar includes 83 international, continental and regional events, highlighted by the World University Weightlifting Championships, the Asian Under-18 Basketball Cup and the T100 World Triathlon Championship Finals.Capacity building has remained a cornerstone of Sheikh Joaan’s leadership, with the Qatar Olympic Academy driving training, education and leadership programmes aimed at developing athletes and sports administrators. These efforts align with Qatar National Vision 2030 and initiatives such as the “Ambition Without Limits” programme.The launch of the QOC’s 2023-2030 strategy further underlined this approach, focusing on athlete development through the Aspire Foundation and national federations, promoting Olympic values, and strengthening sport’s role in social development.In recognition of his contributions, Sheikh Joaan was elected ANOC First Vice President for Asia in October 2022 and received the Arab Sports Personality of the Year award in 2021.As he prepares to assume leadership of the Olympic Council of Asia, HE Sheikh Joaan’s journey stands as a reflection of Qatar’s belief in sport as a catalyst for development, global engagement and national ambition. 

His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), met with Ingmar De Vos, President of the Association of Summer Olympic International Federations (ASOIF) and President of the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), during a visit to the FEI headquarters in Lausanne, Switzerland, on the sidelines of the 14th Olympic Summit held at the Olympic House.The meeting discussed areas of cooperation between QOC and ASOIF, particularly in the fields of developing Olympic sports, enhancing joint programs that support athletes, and reviewing recent developments within the Olympic movement. The two sides also exchanged views on ways to strengthen coordination and integration among international sports institutions.The discussions also touched on the key topics featured on the agenda of the Olympic Summit, and the perspectives they offer regarding the future of the Olympic movement. Both parties emphasised the importance of ongoing collaboration between international sports bodies to ensure the continuous development of sport worldwide and to promote the values of Olympism within communities.This meeting comes as part of the QOC's commitment to exchanging expertise with leading international sports organisations, in a way that contributes to advancing the development of sport in Qatar and strengthening its active presence within the global Olympic movement. 

HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, attended Wednesday the signing ceremony for the renewal of the Cooperation Agreement between the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA). The ceremony took place on the sidelines of the 3rd Asian Youth Games currently being held in Bahrain. The agreement was signed by Timothy Fok, First Vice President of the OCA, and Mustapha Berraf, President of ANOCA. This renewed agreement aims to strengthen mutual cooperation between the two bodies, develop joint initiatives to address shared challenges faced by athletes and professionals across both continents, enhance technical exchange programs, train sports administrators, and coordinate efforts in preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games in Los Angeles 2028. Also present at the signing were Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman al-Kuwari, Second Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for West Asia, and Jassim bin Rashid al-Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee and OCA Vice President for the Doha 2030 Asian Games. It is worth noting that Sheikh Joaan is the sole candidate for the presidency of the Olympic Council of Asia, with the election scheduled to take place during the OCA General Assembly in January next year.