Doha: The Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) celebrated Tuesday the graduation of students from its postgraduate programs at the headquarters of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), under the patronage of HE President of the QOC and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the QOA Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani.
According to Qatar News Agency, the ceremony witnessed the graduation of students from the Advanced Diploma in Sports and Olympic Institutions Management program, as well as a cohort from the Master's in Sports Law program, unique in the region, offered in collaboration with the University of Lleida in Spain and accredited by the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, the International Olympic Academy, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), and the QOC. The certificates also received recognition from the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in the State of Qatar.
The Advanced Diploma in Sports and Olympic Institutions Management represents a core pillar of the QOA's annual agenda and was launched for the first time in 2008 by the QOC through the Academy. The program was among the first twenty Olympic committees worldwide to implement such a curriculum and became the first in the Gulf and Arab regions to do so.
Participants in the diploma program receive extensive training in fields essential to sports administration and management, including the structuring of sports and Olympic institutions, strategic planning for sports organizations, and the management of major sporting events. The program spans six semesters.
The 15th cohort of the 2025 diploma program included 45 students from Qatar and abroad, representing diverse professional and sporting backgrounds. This batch featured distinguished Qatari, Gulf, and Arab athletes.
The graduation ceremony was attended by HE QOC First Vice-Chairman Mohammed bin Yousuf Al Manaa; HE QOC Second Vice-Chairman Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari; and HE QOC Secretary-General and QOA Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain.
The ceremony began with a speech by QOA Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain, expressing gratitude to the International Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, and the QOC for their efforts in supporting these programs.
He congratulated the graduates and encouraged them to continue their postgraduate studies in these specialized fields.
The Academy's statistics for 2025 were presented, including the number and types of programs offered, the students' nationalities, academic qualifications, and other key figures.
QOA Executive Director Khalil Al Jaber expressed his pride in graduating a new cohort of students from the Master's in Sports Law program, as well as the 15th batch of the Advanced Diploma in Sports and Olympic Institutions Management for 2025.
He said that the Academy takes pride in reaching the 15th batch of graduates, bringing the total number of graduates to over 600 students from Qatar and abroad across diverse professional fields.
Al Jaber added that he feels proud of the graduates who joined the Academy family after a full year of studying, receiving extensive training in administrative, financial, organizational, and sports management fields, enhancing their professional and academic expertise.
He also highlighted the outstanding graduates whose projects were selected by the International Olympic Academy for publication, study, and inclusion among the distinguished projects of the year.
Al Jaber expressed gratitude to the International Olympic Committee, the International Olympic Academy, and the QOC for their unlimited support for this program, which launched its 16th edition this year.
The Executive Director extended congratulations to all diligent students on their graduation and wished them success in their professional journeys.
He emphasized that graduates serve as ambassadors of the Academy and represent it at the highest level.
He expressed satisfaction with the program's impact on students' performance and professional development across various fields and countries.
Al Jaber concluded by noting that the Academy is preparing to open registration for the 16th batch in 2026, which continues to attract increasing interest each year, reflecting the value of the program and the skills it imparts, which contribute significantly to students' professional and personal lives.