THE Fifth Mini Olympics was officially declared open yesterday following a spectacular opening ceremony at Isa Sports City’s Bahrain Volleyball Association gym in Riffa.
The Mini Olympics is being organised by Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) in cooperation with the Ministry of Education.
Over 3,500 students from government and private schools from across Bahrain will compete in a record 20 events this year.
His Majesty’s Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee president Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa inaugurated the event which concludes on March 22.
Other high-ranking officials present at the ceremony included Education Ministry undersecretary Dr Faouzi Al Jowder and Supreme Council for Youth and Sports deputy general secretary and BOC general secretary Abdulrahman Askar.
Record
Askar said that a record 58 schools will be taking part this year and competition in 20 events is a record compared to 14 in 2014.
This reflects the remarkable development of the event over the past years, he added.
Later on a number of music and dance shows were performed focussing on Shaikh Nasser’s slogan this year - ‘Gold Only’.
The ceremony concluded with Shaikh Nasser lighting the Olympic torch to declare the Mini Olympics open.
He later delivered a short speech in which he welcomed all the participants and wished them the very best.
In a touching gesture, Shaikh Nasser met Maram Al Sayed Jalil, a student with special needs from Al Khansa Primary Girls School at the gym.