BASKETBALL – BAHRAIN Olympic Committee vice-president Shaikh Isa bin Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa visited the ‘Hawa Al Manama’ event and took in the various cultural, tourism, and sports programmes, including the museum dedicated to Bahraini basketball.
The tour was attended by Tourism Minister Fatima Al Sairafi and Bahrain Basketball Association (BBA) president Shaikh Mohammed bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
During the visit, Al Sairafi provided Shaikh Isa with a detailed explanation of the concept of ‘Hawa Al Manama’, its objectives, and the interactive experiences it offers that highlight a distinctive period in the history of the kingdom’s capital, helping to boost tourism and enrich the experience for citizens, residents, and visitors.
The tour also included a visit to the 3x3 basketball court, which hosted the ‘Legends’ championship in co-operation with the BBA.
Shaikh Isa commended the inclusion of sports activities within cultural and tourism events, emphasising that this approach reflects the integration of national efforts to enhance community engagement, attract different groups, and reinforce Manama’s position as a destination that combines culture, entertainment, and sport in one framework.
Shaikh Isa also expressed pride in the contributions of Bahraini basketball professionals over the years. He commended the dedication of former players and officials who helped boost the development of the sport since the establishment of the BBA in 1974, and whose efforts laid a strong foundation for the local game.
Shaikh Isa noted that this sporting legacy is a source of pride and motivation to build on past accomplishments and support future generations in their pursuit of development and excellence.
On her part, the Tourism Minister said that ‘Hawa Al Manama’ is a practical model for diversifying the tourism product by combining culture, heritage, and sport. She noted that the inclusion of sports activities, including the 3x3 basketball court, has attracted different groups of visitors and has seen strong interest since the start of the event.
She highlighted that the tournaments held at the court, including the ‘Legends’ championship, contributed an interactive and engaging aspect to the tourism experience and reinforced the role of sport as a complementary component of cultural and recreational offerings, in line with the Bahrain Tourism and Exhibitions Authority’s objectives to provide diverse experiences that address the interests of citizens, residents, and visitors, while supporting Manama’s position as a prominent tourist destination.
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