Bahrain to host KHKMMA Championship

HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, First Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports (SCYS), President of Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA), directed the starting of 2016 Mixed Martial Art (MMA) Championship season to coincide with #Yalla Sports Festival organized the Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, on Saturday, February 6.

His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad affirmed this championship is the debut of MMA season this year which will attract numerous special events under the slogan "Determination, Stamina, Challenge". His Highness added the championship comes in implementation of the outcome of the fruitful meeting between His Highness and Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Hisham bin Mohammed Al Jowder to support and develop this game to achieve the strategic goals envisioned by His Highness to spread the culture of MMA among the youth both locally and in Arab countries.

HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad commended the patronage of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa the Representative of HM the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Chairman of the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports and President of Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC), praising the ministry's efforts led by Hisham Al Jowder in boosting the youth and sports activities in the kingdom to achieve the aspirations of HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad al Khalifa in terms of implementation of programmes and plans aimed at the sustainability and overall development of youth and sports sector in the Kingdom of Bahrain. 

His Highness said the open sports festival carried within its folds diverse noble goals and is clue of the leadership's attentiveness of consolidating the values of amity, cohesion in the community. The sport of MMA has been chosen to achieve these goals which is considered the perfect and the optimum means to reach out to all citizens and residents on the Kingdom's soil, His Highness added.

HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad said the open event affirms the Supreme Council of Youth and Sports and the Ministry's commitment to increasing the volume of uncompetitive sports activities in the community to enhance individuals health for the long term as a way of healthy lifestyle for all athletes. His Highness affirmed the ministry's keenness on diversification of sports activities and games to include entertainment, recreational, societal, competitive, and cultural, health, environmental awareness aspects attractive to citizens and expatriate communities from all age groups.

His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa directed the KHK MMA amateurs team to participate in the first Bahrain MMA Championship to boost its success. A special TV advertisement was prepared to promote the first Bahrain MMA Championship scheduled to take place simultaneously with # Yalla Sports Festival.