Chaired by HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, secretary general of the Qatar Olympic Committee, the organising committee behind the 2017 World Athletics Championships hosting bid announced to the international media, at a press conference held at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in the Belgian city of Brussels, the State of Qatar’s intentions to host this major event.. Also attending the press conference were Mr Abdullah Al Zaini, president of the Qatar Athletics Federation, and Ms Afroditi Moutsioulis, planning director of the hosting bid.
Speaking to the international media attending the conference, HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said: ” Doha is committed to hosting one of the best World Championships . We organised the World Indoor Championships in 2010 and we have a strong relationship with the IAAF and we want to strengthen this relationship further by hosting the World Championships in the outdoor stadiums. We are confident of the success of this championship in our country “
For his part, Mr Abdullah Al Zaini, president of the Qatar Athletics Federation, said that the city of Doha will hold a night marathon for the first time in the history of the World Championships. Al Zaini added ” Many feel that it is difficult to hold athletics events in the State of Qatar because of the high temperatures, but we will prove to the world that there is a solution to every problem, and we will organise the marathon event on the Doha Corniche after sunset, when the night weather is ideal for long-distance runners. We have discussed the feasibility of this with broadcasting specialists and found them open to the idea”
After that, the president of the Qatar Athletics Federation and the director of the hosting file briefed those present on the details of the athletes’ village designated for the World Championships in Doha, explaining to the media that this village will be distinguished by every standard and will be located in the heart of the city near the sea, and will include a number of apartments and villas to accommodate every athlete and IAAF official who will visit the city of Doha, which represents a new addition to the championship’s standards.
As for Ms Afroditi, planning director of the hosting bid, she told those present that attendance tickets will be issued in several categories to meet the needs of different segments of society, and confirmed that the organising committee will contract with Qatar Airways to provide special offers for travellers before the actual competitions begin, in order to accommodate any number of fans and athletes who will come by air to the city of Doha from all over the world…
It should be noted that IAAF vice president Mr Dahlan Al Hamad had earlier submitted the Doha file to host this global event, on 3 September on the sidelines of the World Championships held in the city of Daegu, South Korea. Mr Dahlan Al Hamad is the vice chairman of the organising committee behind the hosting bid, and Mr Abdullah Al Zaini is its executive director, with the committee’s members including Dr Jabbar Rahima Al Kaabi (technical director), Mr Saadoun Al Kuwari (director of administration and finance), and Mr Maher Safi (marketing and media director)…
The British city of London is Doha’s sole competitor, and the winning city will be announced next November in Monaco, at a special ceremony bringing together the IAAF family..
