May 2, 2026
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President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. on Friday welcomed His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), during a courtesy call at Malacañang to explore expanded cooperation in sports development.
President Marcos expressed appreciation to OCA President Al Thani and his delegation for finding the time to visit the country despite a busy schedule.
During the event, both sides discussed ways to enhance cooperation in athlete training, institutional partnerships, as well as assessing the Philippines’ potential to host future regional and international sporting competitions.
President Marcos and OCA President Al Thani also emphasized the importance of deepening engagements with the OCA, so that Filipino athletes may have broader access to programs and resources that support their development.
In a social media post, President Marcos said the meeting reflects the administration’s unwavering commitment to expanding opportunities for Filipino athletes to “train, compete and win on the world stage.”
The President added that the engagement demonstrates growing confidence in the Philippines as a regional sports partner, saying the government will continue investing in athletes so they can represent the country with pride and inspire the next generation.
“We will keep investing in our athletes so they can carry our flag with pride and inspire the next generation,” said the President.
The OCA, which oversees major multi-sport events across Asia, plays a key role in shaping regional sports participation and development opportunities for member nations. Its decisions have direct impact on the Philippines’ participation in regional competitions, as well as its access to development resources and funding.
OCA President Al Thani was joined by Qatar’s Ambassador to the Philippines Ahmed Saad N.A. Al-Homidi, and OCA Director General Husain A.H.Z Al Musallam, and other officials.
On the Philippine side, present officials were Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) President Abraham Tolentino and Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) Chairman John Patrick Gregorio. PND