Tashkent: Minister of Sport, President of the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee (SOPC), and Vice President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki bin Faisal congratulated President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani on his election as President of the Olympic Council of Asia for the next four years.

According to Saudi Press Agency, this took place during the 46th General Assembly of the OCA, held today in the Uzbek capital, Tashkent, in the presence of President of the Republic of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and heads of national Olympic committees from across Asia.

Prince Abdulaziz emphasized that the election of Sheikh Joaan reflects the strong confidence he enjoys at the Asian level. He underscored the importance of continuing joint work among national Olympic committees and strengthening cooperation and integration in a manner that contributes to the development of Asian sport, fulfills athletes' aspirations, and reinforces Olympic values. He wished Sheikh Joaan success in leading Asian sport during the coming phase and expressed his appreciation to OCA President Raja Randhir Singh for his efforts during his presidency, which witnessed numerous achievements.

On the sidelines of the General Assembly, the Saudi Olympic and Paralympic Committee signed a memorandum of understanding with the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee. The MoU aims to enhance partnership through coordination at continental and international forums, exchange of expertise and programs between Olympic committees, sports federations, and educational institutions in both countries, and support the development of sports cadres.

The memorandum covers several areas, including sports sustainability, Olympic education, sports medicine, anti-doping, and sport for all. It seeks to strengthen institutional relations, promote exchange visits, and enhance joint cooperation, including in winter sports.

The General Assembly also discussed a number of the council's financial and administrative matters and reviewed reports from organizing committees of upcoming Asian Games, foremost among them the Sixth Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games (Riyadh 2026). Assembly members reviewed a detailed presentation delivered by Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the organizing committee Muneera Al-Sudairi. The council praised Riyadh's readiness to host the event, which is highly anticipated by the Asian Olympic family and scheduled to take place in December.