Doha:

The Qatar Olympic Academy has officially launched the 16th edition of the Advanced Diploma in Sports Management for Sports and Olympic Institutions. The program is delivered in partnership with, and accredited by, the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Solidarity, and the International Olympic Academy.

The launch witnessed strong participation from more than 50 male and female participants representing diverse sporting, administrative, and academic backgrounds from within the State of Qatar and abroad. The cohort includes a distinguished group of Qatari, Gulf, and Arab athletes and sports figures.

Among the participants in this edition are several stars from the Qatari national football team and local clubs, including Talal Ali (Al Ahli Club), Ali Jassimi (Al Sailiya Club), Ali Mallah (Qatar Club), Ahmed Al Saadi (Al Kharaitiyat Club), Mohsen Al Yazeedi (Al Bidda Club), Hisham Kamal (Al Markhiya Club), Abdulqader Elias (formerly of Al Arabi Club), and Hamoud Al Yazeedi (formerly of Al Sadd Club).

Also enrolled in the diploma program are Khaled Al Shaiba and Amal Mohammed from the Qatari national shooting team, Nasser Zidan, rally champion, as well as former international referee Saud Al Azba.

The program further attracts several former Gulf sports stars, including Saudi football star and former Al Ittihad player Manaf Abu Shaqir, former Al Ahli Saudi player Abdulrahim Jizawi, and former Kuwaiti basketball star and Al Qadsia player Nasser Al Dhufairi.

In addition, the program includes a number of prominent sports administrators, led by His Excellency Sheikh Ali bin Abdullah Al Thani, Vice Chairman of Al Waab Club, Dr. Abdullah Al Neama, Marketing Director at Al Arabi Club, as well as media figures such as Rawad Muzhir, Editor-in-Chief of Al Majlis program, and journalist Taha Salman, Director of Iraq Sports Channel 4, alongside other sports, administrative, and media personalities from across the Gulf region and the Arab world.

Launch of the First Module

Lectures for the first module of the program commenced under the title “Organizational Structures of Sports and Olympic Institutions.” The module is delivered by Mr. Hisham Al-Adwani, Director of Sports Management Programs and the Lead Trainer for Olympic Values Education at the International Olympic Committee.

The module addressed the organizational structuring of Olympic committees, covering a wide range of topics aimed at understanding the impact of environmental factors on organizations, evaluating organizational structures and individual roles, assessing organizational authority and leadership, utilizing information technology, and effectively managing organizational change.

Participants were also introduced to the origins of the Olympic Movement and the International Olympic Committee, as well as assumptions related to workplace behavior and organizational culture, such as the value of volunteerism and belief in the importance of the Olympic Movement. The lecturer explained how to analyze operational environments that the IOC focuses on and for which it has established dedicated departments or commissions. He also presented the organizational structure of the International Olympic Committee before discussing the Olympic Charter, the roles and independence of National Olympic Committees, joint Olympic hosting between countries, and the relationship between the IOC and other institutions, including National Olympic Committees, continental federations, and both Olympic and non-Olympic national federations.

Program Duration

The diploma program consists of seven modules delivered over the period from April 20 until early December. Participants attend in person at the Academy’s headquarters for four days each month.

At the conclusion of the program, and upon successfully passing all module assessments and submitting the graduation project, participants will be awarded an official diploma certificate issued by the International Olympic Committee. The certificate will bear the signatures of Ms. Kirsty Coventry, President of the International Olympic Committee, and His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee. In addition, participants will receive a certificate of completion for each individual module, titled according to the module name.

Admission Requirements

Participants admitted to the diploma program were required to meet several criteria, most notably holding a bachelor’s degree in any discipline, or having successfully completed both the Principles of the Olympic Movement in the Sports System (Management 1) course and the Modern Management of Sports Institutions (Management 2) course. These courses are organized annually by the Qatar Olympic Academy and are accredited by the International Olympic Committee, ensuring candidates are properly qualified and prepared to enroll in the diploma program.

It is worth noting that the Academy will organize the Principles of the Olympic Movement in the Sports System course from June 7 to June 11, while the Modern Management of Sports Institutions (Management 2) course will be held from November 29 to December 3. This provides interested candidates with the opportunity to complete all requirements and qualify for enrollment in the next edition of the diploma program.

Second Module

The second module of the program will be held from May 18 to May 21. This module will focus on Strategic Planning, during which participants will learn about the preparation of strategic processes, diagnosing the environment of Olympic sports institutions, defining vision, values, missions, and strategic objectives, as well as developing action plans and implementing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms.