We competed with a group of young athletes .. and our results did not meet our ambitions
Abdullah Al Zaini, president of the athletics federation and head of the organising committee for the Diamond League meeting held in Doha yesterday, said the IAAF had expressed its delight at Qatar’s continued impressive organisation and preparation, with 180 athletes among the world’s stars competing in various races representing 45 countries. Al Zaini noted that IAAF president Lamine Diack said Doha was a good omen for the world’s stars through the marks
that were achieved, and through Doha’s ability to put on a meeting the IAAF would always remember fondly. Doha put on a beautiful show over more than five continuous hours at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium.
Al Zaini stressed that the overall outcome confirmed everything had gone ahead without a single minute’s delay and in line with the IAAF’s competition schedule, and that everyone left the Qatar meeting satisfied and happy, since there was not a single complaint from anyone, whether athletes, coaches or others — fresh recognition for the Qatari federation.
On the Qatari results at the meeting, he said it was difficult for Qatari athletes to outdo world champions, and that account had to be taken of the fact that Qatar’s participation had largely comprised young athletes, as was the case in the 800m race.
Al Zaini explained that the federation appreciated the conditions in which its athletes competed alongside these champions, and that they wanted them to gain experience and exposure for future championships, but that overall the Qatari results did not meet their ambitions or expectations.
He affirmed that Qatari officiating at the meeting earned a certificate of excellence from the IAAF, with 135 Qatari officials of various grades taking part. They presented a creditable image to the world, were keen to apply fairness among the athletes and spared no effort, being a group of young officials with many years of continuous work ahead of them.
Al Zaini noted that officials had to develop themselves not only by being present on the field but through continuous follow-up of IAAF rules, more reading and awareness of different championships, adding that self-education needed to increase.
He said the working committees for the meeting had endured hardship over the past months in preparation and organisation, adding that they were pleased with this cooperation, and at the same time saluted the Qatari media, a partner in the success of every Qatari championship.
Flags of 54 countries surrounded the stadium
The flags of the 45 participating countries flew at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar SC for the first Diamond League meeting, flanked at the centre by the IAAF and Qatar Athletics Federation flags. National flags also appeared around the stadium’s outer perimeter, and some communities made a point of bringing their countries’ flags to salute their athletes during the race.
The national flags were a way of declaring the affiliations of the athletes taking part in this global event.
Foreign journalists praised the media centre
Foreign journalists praised the Qatari preparations behind the event and the fine organisation that upheld the high standing Qatari sport enjoys. They were keen to ask about Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium and expressed admiration for the crowd turnout and enthusiastic support for the champions during the races.
More than 60 media personnel from various outlets took part in covering the meeting from inside the Qatar SC stadium, aided by the abundance of computers set up by the organising committee, all equipped with direct internet lines.
The meeting’s media centre was just a few steps from the stadium, and journalists thanked the organising committee for hospitality that reflected the warmth of sporting spirit and the precision of the organisation.
Warm-up tracks
The organising committee prepared three side tracks for the athletes’ warm-ups, only a few minutes from the main stadium, where competitors trained in the final moments before their races.
Some spectators went to the side tracks to watch the training moments of the big stars and observe the crucial exercises before they headed to the track.
The side tracks were fully equipped and served as a stage for the athletes before zero hour.
The big screen .. and the decisive moments
The big screen mounted above the stands of Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium broadcast the races from the opening moments to the finish, capturing the determination on the stars’ faces. It also showed the closing moments of each race for the top finishers, adding to the crowd’s enjoyment, as they were fixed with attention on the runners throughout.
The great advantage of these big screens is that they show the deciding seconds and thrilling moments in the athletes’ careers, and provide the picture from different angles.
Ethiopian fans .. a storm of applause
Fans of the Ethiopian community were the most numerous in the stands yesterday, numbering more than 3,000, and they kept cheering their athletes throughout the races. They made a point of arriving from four in the afternoon carrying the green, yellow and red flags of their country.
Members of the Ethiopian community turned out in large numbers, showed disciplined support, and sympathised strongly with all the African runners as a sign of solidarity.
The Ethiopian fans stayed in their seats applauding until the end, while some other spectators hurried to leave the stadium, satisfied with what they had seen.
America’s Angelo:
Achieved his goal .. and won gold
American runner Angelo Taylor, winner of the 400m hurdles at the Doha meeting, did a lap of honour around Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium after his gold medal victory was announced yesterday, and was greeted with a thunderous round of applause in appreciation of the crowd present. He clocked a time of 49.66 seconds yesterday.
Taylor said he had come to Doha for the challenge and to seize first place at the start of the Diamond League season, and that yesterday’s win had been extremely tough, since the competition with his compatriot Patrick had been fierce. He said the final metres were what gave him first place, as he had saved his effort for that stretch, and that he had expected to win.
The American champion stressed that the 400m hurdles required patience and avoiding a rushed effort over the first 100m, and that the final metres needed care as fitness levels neared their limit. After the last hurdle, he found the way open for the lead.
He said this was his first visit to Doha, that the weather there was good, and that yesterday’s win marked the start of his campaign for this long season. He hoped Doha would prove a good omen for him.
The weather turned noticeably milder yesterday, with suitable temperatures helping the runners produce good performances, and his participation in Doha would remain a happy memory for him.
He said he had felt at ease in Doha, having toured some tourist sites the day before yesterday, and had found a warm response from everyone. He said he would not forget this race, since it was the first time it had been held in a Middle Eastern country.
America’s Danielle:
Still at the start of the season .. better to come
American Danielle Samuel, runner-up at the Doha Diamond League meeting, said she was showing gradual improvement compared with her previous marks, and that she was still at the start of the season. She considered it a good start, and while the mark she achieved, 64.90m, did not satisfy her ambition, it was still decent — matching the winning mark of 64.90m recorded by Cuban thrower Brais, in first place, which she said meant the distance could be broken in coming meetings.
The American athlete said she had been keen to finish first and had come to Doha for that reason, but had not achieved that ambition. She believed the chance remained open in coming European meetings to improve her mark, adding that it was natural for marks at the start of the season to be unpredictable, and that she wanted to record a personal best of her own this season.
800m race
Kenya’s David:
A good start despite missing his personal best
Kenya’s David took first place in the 800m yesterday, though surprisingly he could not match the time he clocked at a meeting in Italy last year, when he ran 1:42.10. He said yesterday’s was a good start, since it was the first race of the Diamond League season, and that with time he could produce a better mark.
The Kenyan runner said everything about his form gave him cause for optimism and confidence, and that he had not expected more than this, since season openers were always like that. He added that the upcoming meeting in Oslo would be better, with humidity and heat levels lower than what he found in Doha.
He said the race had been an all-Kenyan contest between himself and his compatriot Karabee, who took second place in 1:43.45, the gap coming down to fractions of a second in the closing strides near the finish line, while Morocco’s Amine Laalou finished third, 0.71 seconds back.
The Kenyan runner David added that he was happy to have taken part in the Doha meeting, that the crowd’s response to him had been wonderful, and that everything gave hope for a better time ahead
