MMA – BAHRAIN is set to host the first-ever OCA-AMMA referee and coaches development programme later this month.
This was announced yesterday by the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), who are organising the event in collaboration with the Asia Mixed Martial Arts Association (AMMA).
This is a landmark initiative dedicated to uplifting the standards of mixed martial arts (MMA) across the continent, the OCA said yesterday. The OCA and AMMA are joining hands to strengthen the foundations of the sport through education, equality, and ethical leadership.
The programme will be held across three days from August 25 to 27, where participants will receive world-class instruction, engage in vital conversations around safeguarding mental health and fair play, and build bonds.
There will also be a cultural exchange between the participating National Olympic Committees.
The combat sport of MMA has grown tremendously over the past few years. It will be making its highly anticipated debut in two major OCA championships in the next two years – first in the third Asian Youth Games (AYG) 2025 in Bahrain this October and then at the 20th Asian Games next year in Aichi and Nagoya in Japan.
This year’s AYG will serve as a qualifying event for the Youth Olympic Games, to be held in Dakar, Senegal in the summer of 2026. The OCA and the local organising committee have approved 24 sports for the event. Aside from MMA, the others are swimming, athletics, badminton, 3x3 basketball, boxing, camel racing, cycling, equestrian events, E-sports, futsal, golf, handball, jiu-jitsu, judo, kabaddi, Muay Thai, table tennis, taekwondo, teqball, triathlon, volleyball, weightlifting, and wrestling.
Meanwhile, MMA’s inclusion at next year’s Asian Games is a significant milestone for the sport, providing athletes from across Asia a chance to compete on a major international stage. The MMA programme will feature traditional MMA and modern MMA competitions for both men and women.
patrick@gdnmedia.bh
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