H.E Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar has been elected President of the Olympic Council of Asia during the 46th OCA General Assembly held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. He becomes the 22nd President to serve the Olympic Movement in Asia since the first multi sport Games were held in 1913.
The election took place in the presence of representatives from the 45 Asian National Olympic Committees, as well as the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, H.E Shavkat Mirziyoyev.
Sheikh Joaan currently serves as Senior Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. During the General Assembly, he presented his vision titled Together for Asia, outlining a commitment to strengthening solidarity and development across the continent, supporting athletic excellence, promoting good governance, and embracing innovation in a responsible manner. His programme also focuses on ensuring that OCA events and initiatives remain sustainable, inclusive, and credible, while increasing international representation to advance Asia’s interests and positioning sport as a platform for peace, mutual respect, and cultural understanding.
In his address, Sheikh Joaan highlighted the importance of unity within the diversity of Asia, noting that collaboration among National Olympic Committees is essential to providing opportunities for athletes and young people to succeed on the global sporting stage.
Sheikh Joaan will serve as OCA President for the remainder of the current term following the decision of former President Raja Randhir Singh to step down due to health reasons. He expressed his appreciation for Singh’s leadership and contribution to the Olympic Council of Asia, acknowledging his role during a challenging period for the organisation.
