His Majesty’s Representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Council (SCYS) Chairman and Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) President His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa paid tribute to HM King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa, hailing the royal support which was a major boost to win the Ironman World Championship, held recently in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the USA, beating more than 3000 participants worldwide.

This came as he met, at Al-Wadi Palace in Riffa, a group of social media from Bahrain, journalists and media figures from Bahrain and the UAE, as well as distinguished Bahraini sports figures, including professional world champion Sami Al-Haddad, Bahrain Olympic Academy director Dr. Nabil Taha and former Bahraini athlete Rukaya Al-Ghasra.

The meeting was attended by SCYS Vice Chairman and Bahrain Athletics Association (BAA) Chief HH Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al-Khalifa and Youth and Sports Affairs Minister Hesham bin Mohammed Al-Jowder.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa hailed the role of the press, radio, TV and the social media in supporting and promoting plans and programmes aimed at developing youth and sport movement in Bahrain.

He commended the sports supplements, Radio and TV and social media users, stressing their role in boosting his enthusiasm to win Ironman World Championship, held recently in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the USA.

He paid tribute to HM King Hamad bin Isa Al-Khalifa who encouraging him, hailing the royal support which enabled him to clinch the Ironman World Championship, held recently in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the USA.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa credited the Bahraini team which included Mohammed Al-Qais, Khalid Bouallay and others, hailing that strenuous efforts to achieve outstanding performance on the 40th anniversary of the  Ironman World Championship.

He extended thanks to all those who followed up his landmark achievement and congratulated him on winning the Ironman World Championship, held recently in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, the USA.

HH Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al-Khalifa slammed those suspicious voices which sought to belittle his landmark sports performance to no avail. He revealed that certain parties even contacted the Ironman World Championship organizing committee in a bid to deny the news but their designs were thwarted by high-level officials in charge of the global championship.