Doha, November 10 (QNA) - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has announced that the 2026 Youth Games will be held from 18 to 22 November under the slogan "Towards a Sporting Generation and a Promising Future". The event will welcome a broad range of young male and female sporting talents, highlighting the QOC's ongoing commitment to developing young athletes and investing in the next generation.

The announcement was made at a press conference held by the Organizing Committee at QOC headquarters.

According to the latest figures from the Organizing Committee, 338 young people have registered for the Games, comprising 276 boys and 62 girls. A total of 95 participants are registered for the 10-metre recurve archery event, while 177 will compete in the 10-metre air rifle and air pistol events. Padel will feature 33 teams.

The competitions will be held daily from 4:00 pm to 9:00 pm, giving young athletes the opportunity to showcase their abilities and gain valuable competitive experience. The Games will reach their conclusion on 22 November 2026 with the finals in shooting, archery and padel, followed by awards for the first- and second-place finishers in both the boys' and girls' categories across all three sports. 

Abdullah Al Athba, Head of the Support Services Committee, welcomed and thanked the attendees before presenting the sports program for the Games. The program includes three sports: shooting, archery and padel, targeting boys and girls between the ages of 12 and 17. He also highlighted the readiness of the competition venues, including their facilities, equipment and logistical arrangements, as well as the availability of organizational staff and volunteers to assist participants, their families and spectators at The Dome in Qatar Foundation and the Lusail Indoor Shooting Range.

Abdullah Al Abdullah, Head of the Technical Committee, outlined the technical and officiating framework for the competitions, noting that its implementation will involve close coordination with the Qatar Shooting and Archery Association and the Qatar Padel Federation.

Abdulrahman Al Mulla said the padel competitions aim to build on the sport's growing popularity and turn young people's enthusiasm into opportunities to identify promising players and develop future champions. He added that technical support and qualified officiating would help create the right competitive environment for young talent to flourish.

Masoud Al Athba, meanwhile, noted that shooting and archery offer more than sporting competition, helping young people develop discipline, responsibility, concentration and precision. He said the competitions also aim to identify promising Qatari athletes who can build on the country's record of sporting achievements.

On this occasion, Hind Al Ibrahim, Director of the 2026 Youth Games, said the event will help identify young athletes with strong potential and assess their readiness for further development. Outstanding participants may be considered for specialized training and preparation programs, paving the way for them to represent Qatar in future competitions. She said this approach forms part of the QOC's commitment to building a comprehensive and sustainable pathway for nurturing sporting talent.

She added that preparations for the Doha 2030 Asian Games make the development of young athletes even more important. By equipping them with the experience and competitive skills needed to perform at the highest level, Qatar is laying the foundations for a new generation capable of strengthening the country's presence at major regional, continental and international sporting events.

Meanwhile, Najlaa Al Khayareen, Head of the Games' Marketing and Communications Committee, affirmed that the committee had adopted a promotional strategy centered on strengthening community engagement and bringing the Games closer to the public through direct interaction with different segments of society.

She explained that the campaign, which began several weeks ago, involved a range of promotional activities across the community, including an event at Gewan Island that offered visitors the opportunity to experience padel and archery first-hand.

Al Khayareen noted that the considerable turnout and enthusiastic engagement of young people and families demonstrated the positive impact of these initiatives in raising awareness of the Games and strengthening their connection with the community.

She added that the committee had also put in place comprehensive media and digital coverage for the duration of the Games, ensuring that the public remains at the heart of the event. Through the official social media platforms, audiences will be able to follow the latest results, key highlights, photographs and stories documenting the participants' experiences and achievements. (QNA)