By Duncan Mackay

The first GCC Beach Games in Bahrain proved a success but the second edition is proving more difficult to stage ©OCAApril 20 - A request by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) to host the second Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Beach Games in April 2015 instead of October 2014 has been approved, it has been announced.


The decision followed a meeting of the GCC National Olympic Committees Presidents' Executive Committee at the Regency Hotel in Kuwait City. 

The event had originally been due to take place between October 20 and 26, featuring six sports -football, handball, rowing, sailing, swimming and volleyball. 

New dates will be announced shortly, the QOC said. 

The first Games had been held in Bahrain in 2010  when the host nation came top overall with a total of 16 medals, including eight gold, ahead of Kuwait and Oman. 

But early hopes that the Games would take place on an annual basis so far have proved elusive. 

The second edition of the event had originally been awarded to Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, and had been due to be held in 2012 only for them to withdraw because their facilities were not ready.

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