DILI, TIMOR-LESTE - 8 Aug 2026:
The President of Asian Athletics, Gen. Dahlan Al-Hamad, has concluded a three-day official visit to Timor-Leste during which he held a series of high-level meetings focused on the development of athletics and sport in the country.
Gen. Dahlan, accompanied by Asian Athletics Secretary General Mr. A. Shuggumarran, met with H.E. José Ramos-Horta, President of the Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, as well as H.E. Dulce de Jesus Soares, Minister of Education, and H.E. Nelyo Isaac Sarmento, Minister of Youth, Sports, Arts and Culture.
The meetings covered grassroots sport, Kids Athletics, athlete and coach development and opportunities for closer cooperation between the Government of Timor-Leste, the Timor-Leste Athletics Federation and Asian Athletics.
A significant outcome of the visit was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Ministry of Education of Timor-Leste and the Timor-Leste Athletics Federation. The MoU aims to strengthen cooperation in the development of athletics and sport, under which the Timor-Leste Athletics Federation will train personnel from the Ministry of Education, while Asian Athletics will provide training and technical support to personnel of the Timor-Leste Athletics Federation.
Particular attention was given to the Government's initiatives to promote Kids Athletics in schools and communities. Asian Athletics will support these efforts through the development and training of officials to help deliver Kids Athletics programmes across the country.
The meetings were also attended by senior representatives of the Timor-Leste Athletics Federation, including President Afrânio Xavier Amaral, Senior Vice President Filomena Barros dos Reis and Secretary General Marlia Lese Pires Moniz.
During the visit, the Asian Athletics delegation also attended the Dili International Marathon 2026. The event brought together elite athletes alongside schoolchildren, highlighting the growing interest in athletics among young people in Timor-Leste and the importance of providing opportunities for children and communities to participate in sport.
The visit further strengthened the cooperation between Asian Athletics and Timor-Leste and provided a strong foundation for continued collaboration in the development of athletics and sport in the country, with a particular focus on grassroots participation, youth development, capacity building and the long-term growth of athletics in Timor-Leste.
