Jalakh and Saadeh Depart for the 42nd OCA General Assembly in Bangkok

A press statement from the Lebanese Olympic Committee announced the departure of the committee's president, Dr. Pierre Jalakh, and executive committee member (Treasurer) lawyer François Saadeh from Beirut via Rafic Hariri International Airport heading to Bangkok, Thailand, to attend the General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) scheduled for Saturday, July 8th. The agenda includes several items, most notably the election of a new board for the upcoming term 2023-2027, which includes the president, secretary-general, heads of working committees, and five vice-presidents. The elections will see competition between Kuwaiti candidates, Sheikh Talal Al-Fahad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah (58 years old), a former president of the Kuwaiti Olympic Committee and the Kuwaiti Football Association, and Dr. Husain Al-Musallam (63 years old), currently the OCA's director general and president of the International Aquatics Federation. It is a requirement for nominees for the presidency to secure the support of at least two Olympic committees, with the presidency awarded to the candidate who receives a majority of votes from the 45 continental Olympic committees. The winner will succeed Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, brother of Sheikh Talal, who temporarily stepped down from the presidency in September 2021. Since then, the honorary vice president of the council, Raja Randhir Singh, has held the presidency. Additionally, the Lebanese Olympic Committee delegation is scheduled to hold meetings and work sessions with officials from the OCA and several national continental Olympic committee members.