Shura Council members present innovative sports fund plan to boost athletic ambitions

TDT | Manama

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A proposal to create a Sports Support Fund, designed to fuel Bahrain’s athletic ambitions through donations and sponsorships, has been presented by members of the Shura Council.

The initiative seeks to establish a financially independent entity to strengthen the sports sector without drawing on the state’s budget.

Bahrain’s impressive performance at the 2024 Paris Olympics — where athletes won two gold medals, a silver, and a bronze — forms the backdrop to the proposal.

“Our young athletes are Bahrain’s greatest asset, deserving the care and resources to achieve even greater heights,” the explanatory memorandum reads.

The fund would be overseen by the General Sports Authority and managed by a board chaired by its leader, with members appointed by the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.

Its role would be to support sports projects, back private initiatives, and encourage closer collaboration between public and private sectors to strengthen the country’s athletic framework.

Drawing on international examples, the proposal outlines how similar funds have succeeded in boosting sports performance abroad.

The Bahrain fund would rely on donations and sponsorship deals to maintain financial independence, with strict rules ensuring funds are used as intended.

Any misuse would be treated as a criminal offence under existing laws.

Authority

The fund would also have the authority to create commercial companies, adding another source of income.

In the event of its closure, all remaining assets would transfer to the General Sports Authority. The proposed law includes 19 articles detailing the fund’s framework, governance, and operations.

It also ensures that its employees would fall under Bahrain’s Civil Service Law and Government Pensions Law.

Proposers Redha Munfaradi, Dalal Al Zayed, Ali Abdullah Al Aradi, Hesham Al Qassab, and Ali Al Shihabi have urged timely consideration of the draft.

They believe it offers a pragmatic way to build on Bahrain’s recent sporting successes while providing a firm foundation for future achievements.