Today Sheikh Talal Fahad Al Ahmad Al-Sabah was elected as the new President the Olympic Council of Asia at the 42nd OCA General Assembly in Bangkok, Thailand.

In a highly competitive election Sheikh Talal received 24 of the 44 votes cast, while the other candidate, the OCA Director General Husain Al-Musallam, received 20. The simple majority required was 23.

Sheikh Talal, 58, is the son of the first OCA President, Sheikh Fahad Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, who was President from 1982 to 1990, and the younger brother of the previous OCA President, Sheikh Ahmad Fahad Al-Sabah, who led the organisation from 1991 to 2021.

He is Chair of the OCA Rules Committee and a member of the OCA Executive Board.

His election keeps the leadership of the Kuwait-based OCA in the House of the Al Sabah family.

In his 15-minute election presentation, Sheikh Talal’s motto was “One Asia, One Family” and he built his campaign around five main pillars: good governance, financial sustainability, development plan for sports and activities, education programmes and high-quality Asian Games.

His election pledge included an increase in funding for the 45 National Olympic Committees, the five zones in the OCA and for development projects, and he said he was committed to bringing positive change.
“I will follow the lead of my father and brother,” Sheikh Talal told the delegates at the Centara Grand convention centre. We have been with Asia for more than 40 years. I promise you I will unite Asia again,” he added.

The International Kurash Association would like to sincerely congratulate Sheikh Talal with his election and wishes him big success in his new post!