In a region where sports have traditionally been overshadowed by other industries, Bahrain is embracing it as a tool for empowerment, innovation and a symbol of prosperity.
This commitment to harnessing the power of sport for youth development aligns closely with the global celebration of the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace (IDSDP), held every year on 6 April. This day, established by the United Nations General Assembly, recognises sport as a driver of social change, inclusion and sustainable development.
This year’s theme, “Levelling the Playing Field: Sport for Social Inclusion,” underscores how sport can break down barriers and create equitable opportunities for all – especially for youth, women and people with disabilities. Bahrain’s grassroots initiatives, talent development programmes, and focus on inclusive infrastructure mirror the theme’s call to action: to ensure no one is left behind in accessing the benefits of sport.
According to the International Olympic Committee, IDSDP serves as a powerful reminder of sport’s unique ability to promote peace, respect and community across cultural and national boundaries. As Bahrain continues to invest in sport as part of its economic and social development strategy, it is also contributing to this broader international agenda – demonstrating how local action can reverberate on a global scale.
The Kingdom’s pioneering efforts include some notable “firsts”: founding the Gulf region’s first women’s national football team in 2003, hosting the Middle East’s first ever Formula One (F1) Grand Prix in 2004, and the first Middle East IRONMAN triathlon endurance competition in 2015. Bringing these globally recognised sporting endeavours to Bahrain and the wider Gulf region is a vital showcase for empowering our youth. After all, as US tennis icon Billie Jean King said: “If you can see it, you can be it”.
With that mantra in mind, the Kingdom is continuing to build a future where athletes, both on the field and in virtual arenas, can thrive.
An equal playing field
Bahrain has made significant strides towards inclusivity and gender empowerment by backing women’s sports. In football, the groundbreaking women’s national team is ranked highest of the GCC countries by FIFA, setting a benchmark for excellence in women’s sports across the region. This success is being used to break down further barriers and tap the “limitless” potential of female participation in other sports, including in the Olympics.
At Paris 2024, Team Bahrain consisted of 14 athletes, eight of which were women. It is the first time there was equal gender representation for the country at the Olympics. This is a direct result of the efforts of the Bahrain Olympic Committee to support women’s sport at all levels. The success of those efforts can also be measured in medals. Bahraini women won two at Paris 2024, one gold and one silver, building on the other four medals won by Team Bahrain prior to 2024, which were also claimed by female athletes.
Moving from long-established global sports to newer ones: Padel, which is in the midst of a rapid expansion. It is predicted that there will be 70,000 courts worldwide by 2026, that’s a seven-fold increase within a decade. There are more than 25 million players in 110 countries, 38% of whom are female. This growth is mirrored in the Middle East and, with an estimated 50,000 players, it has also taken Bahrain by storm. Spurred on by rising stars like Shoug Alaseeri, female coaches and new training facilities, more and more women are taking up the sport in Bahrain too.
Off the court, track and field, women now make up 21% of eSports gamers in Bahrain. In 2022, Maryam Maher became the first Bahrain-based female gamer signed to the G2 eSports team. She is currently a member of Saudi-based Team Falcons and sponsored by RedBullBahrain. These indicators of eSports increasing diversity and reach in the GCC are backed up by GIRLGAMER Esports choosing Bahrain as its host for the 2023 World Finals.
Fostering young talent
Bahrain’s National Youth Strategy (2015–2030) is designed to empower young citizens, fuel their ambitions and prepare them for the future by fostering creativity and innovation. Sports forms a key part of that as a pathway towards global excellence and good citizenship. The next generation of Bahraini sporting talent will be nurtured at Bahrain Sports City, where they will have access to state-of-the-art training facilities. The project puts Bahrain in pole position as a hub for youth sports in the region.
The Kingdom’s focus on football is also paying dividends. In 2022, national youth player Hashim Khalaifat signed with Spanish side Cordoba CF. More national talent is being developed by laying foundations with a string of global football giants and signing up with some of the world’s biggest academies. Bahrain is already home to an academy for Juventus, the “old lady” of Italy with a long and rich history. They will be joined by the Real Madrid Foundation, bringing the club of “Galaticos” to the Gulf, and another storied Italian superpower, AC Milan.
Other initiatives are designed to boost youth participation in the International eSport Federation (IESF). The National eSport Qualifiers gave Bahrainis the chance to compete for spots at the eSports World Cup and in the eSports League Island Clash, which is sponsored by Zain Bahrain eSports lab and Tamkeen. This focus on youth development in competitive eSports goes hand-in-hand with the Kingdom’s interest in digital transformation and next-generation technologies like AI that will shape future generations.
A digital sports future
Digital sports are becoming increasingly popular, and there is a burgeoning eSports scene in the GCC–part of a global phenomenon that commands an audience of half a billion people. The 2024 eSports World Cup, the first of its kind and worth US$60 million, took place in Saudi Arabia and included Bahraini representation.
The Kingdom’s investment in digital transformation ensures the next generation has an advantage in cutting-edge technology, both on the pitch and virtually. At the 4th Arab Artificial Intelligence Forum, in Manama, Bahrain, there was a push for the use of AI in sports analysis to improve results. This is in line with the rapid adoption of AI across many sports around the world; from on the pitch with players, referees and coaches to the fans’ off field experience.
Bahrain is ahead of the curve with this, having already sought to become a centre for AI in advancing its future of sports, starting with swimming and tennis but moving into further sporting areas also. The Kingdom is also leading on fostering a culture of innovation through initiatives like the Artificial Intelligence Academy at Bahrain Polytechnic. The knowledge and experience gleaned from these initiatives can be used to further sports participation and technical excellence within the Kingdom.
Striving for excellence
This drive for youth development is helping Bahrain become a regional centre for sporting excellence. This is particularly apparent in the establishment of the Bahrain Centre of Excellence for aquatic sports. The world-class facility, the first of its kind in the Middle East, shows the country’s ambition to position itself as a hub for international sporting events. The first of these was the World Aquatics High-Diving World Cup, held in Bahrain in September 2024.
The Bahrain Olympic Committee’s (BOC) drive to increase participation and success at the Olympics saw the Kingdom’s athletes produce a record achievement at Paris 2024. Four medals; two golds, one silver and one bronze, ensured a ranking of 33rd. Overall, athletes from 184 countries, representing 206 National Olympic Committees (NOCs), took part. Bahrain also hosted the Olympic sport of weightlifting for the first time ever when the IWF World Weightlifting Championships came to Manama in December 2024.
It shows how the commitment to youth sports development can pay off, enabling Bahraini athletes to compete at the highest levels of international sport and push the representation of Bahrain and the wider GCC region to new heights.
