More than 5,500 students are expected to compete in 26 sports, as part of the event   

Manama, Oct 24, 2024:  Around 5,550 students from 80 school federations across 71 countries are expected to participate in the International School Sport Federation (ISF) Gymnasiade Bahrain 2024, which kicked off on Thursday. The opening ceremony held at the National Stadium in Riffa featured a fireworks display. 

The ISF Gymnasiade is conducted under the patronage of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa from October 23-31, fostering a spirit of competition among young athletes from around the globe. 

Competitions will take place in several sports facilities prepared for this event, including Isa City Sports City, Khalifa Sports City, Al Ahli Club, Al Najma Club, the American University of Bahrain, the Public Security Officers Club, Bahrain Tennis Club courts and Um Al Hassam Sports Halls. 

The games will feature competitions in 26 sports, including athletics, archery, badminton, 3×3 basketball, beach volleyball, boxing, chess, artistic and rhythmic gymnastics and judo. There will also be events for athletes with disabilities in athletics, badminton and judo. 

The International School Sports Games, held biennially under the auspices of the International School Sport Federation (ISF), first commenced in 1974 in Wiesbaden, Germany. Since its inception, these prestigious games have taken place in notable global cities, including Orléans, France, in 1976; Turin, Italy, in 1980; and Shanghai, China, in 1998. The event has also featured significant editions in cities such as Nicosia, Lille, Nice and Bruges.