The 23rd Asian Athletics Championships get under way on the track and field at the World Cup-ready Khalifa International Stadium on Sunday afternoon and continue until April 24, with 700 athletes from 44 countries representing the world’s largest continent taking part. They will compete over four days for the coloured medals and a place on the podium to honour their countries.
The opening day’s programme features 16 events, including eight finals split evenly between men and women, alongside numerous heats for both categories, as follows: the evening session begins at 3:30 pm with, first, the women’s javelin, 5000m, 400m and shot put finals, and second, the men’s pole vault, discus and 3000m steeplechase finals and the 10,000m, alongside heats held in the morning session from 8:30 am: the women’s 800m, men’s triple jump qualifying, women’s 400m, men’s 400m and men’s 100m.
The championships serve as an excellent rehearsal for the Qatar Athletics Federation to demonstrate the country’s ability to organise major events and to confirm its readiness, from now, to host the bigger challenge: the World Athletics Championships in September, the first time the event will be held in the Middle East.
The Local Organising Committee has completed all arrangements and preparations for a simple opening ceremony at Khalifa International Stadium, attended by dignitaries and senior international and Asian sports officials along with the participating athletes. It includes brief remarks by the president of the Asian Athletics Association and a representative of the Olympic Council of Asia, followed by a parade of flag-bearers leading the participating Asian athletes and officiating teams, after which the patron of the opening ceremony will formally declare the championships open.
