Doha: The Board of Directors of the Olympic Refugee Foundation (ORF) held Monday in Doha its annual meeting for 2024 with the participation of HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and member of the Foundation's Board of Directors Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani. The meeting was chaired by HE ORF Chairman and President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Dr. Thomas Bach, and was attended by HE ORF Vice Chair and United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, alongside members of the ORF Board. HE Dr. Thomas Bach opened the meeting with a welcoming speech in which he praised Doha's hosting and Qatars active role in supporting the Olympic Refugee Foundation. In his speech during the meeting, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, said, "We are committed to expanding our partnership with the Olympic Refugee Foundation (ORF) to provide a safe haven year-round for refugee athletes from all over the world, along with their coaches and technical officials - giving them the traini ng, facilities, and access they need to develop their skills in Doha." For her part, HE Minister of State for International Cooperation at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Lolwah bint Rashid Al Khater said, "Qatar has demonstrated how sports can bridge divides, foster mutual understanding, and promote peace. We have invested in sports as a platform to unite people from diverse backgrounds, emphasizing that it's more than just sports - it's a dialogue" During the meeting, the members discussed several items on the agenda and made appropriate decisions. The Board members met with senior stakeholders from across Qatar's public sector including Fahad Al Sulaiti, CEO of Education Above All (EAA); and Nasser Al Khori, Executive Director of Generation Amazing Foundation (GA), who explained the work Qatar is undertaking to advance social development through sport. The IOC established the ORF in 2017 at its Session in Lima where the QOC became a Founding Partner. The Foundations mission is for displaced young people to find belonging through sport, and shape their own futures, their way. Source: Qatar News Agency