This week’s roundup saw many results borne from the fruits of the IAAF president’s visit to Doha, hosted by HE Major General Dahlan Al Hamad… fruits that confirmed the continuing partnership between Qatar and the IAAF, a partnership that delivers many successes, especially as Qatar attracts some of the most important championships in the world and is even the one that opens the athletics season with the Diamond League… and what Sebastian Coe said at the heart of the conference carried many positive signals about the relations between Qatar and the whole world, because whoever builds for the future is the same one working for the honour of complete success
In the Hasad Al Osboa (Weekly Roundup) programme on Al Kass channel, HE Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar and Asian athletics federations and vice-president of the IAAF, was given an important interview, in which he raised many important points about the course of the coming period for world athletics and how to sustain the strong relationship between Qatar and the world. The interview opened with a question about the positives that emerged from the IAAF president’s visit to Doha and the fruits it produced to build on, and the answer was clear, pointing to the importance of the visit as it came at the launch of the new Diamond League season, especially with Qatar hosting the first meeting of this major global event. HE Dahlan said: there is no doubt that Lord Sebastian Coe’s visit to Doha at the launch of the new season made us happy and was widely welcomed, as it is proof that Qatar was and remains a key partner of the IAAF, especially when we look back to hosting the first World Championships in 1997, when Doha opened its doors to world athletics in the widest possible way through the major participation of champions, male and female, with world-class marks, which helped ignite the spark of major events in the Arab and Asian regions
He added: we see Lord Coe’s visit as a full and positive signal through following the IAAF’s agenda, and it is proof that the partnership continues despite all the circumstances that have battered world athletics, and thus confirms that Qatar is a land of partnership, hard work and the determination to excel with complete transparency and honesty. I consider the most important signal to be what he said about Qatar’s facilities being ahead of their time through determination and resolve, and we can only appreciate this visit, which was useful and had many positives
The 2109 World Championships in Qatar
HE Dahlan Al Hamad confirmed that his visit with Lord Coe to Khalifa International Stadium was extremely positive, as the IAAF president was taken aback by this major, fast-paced work and what had been achieved so far in terms of major, positive infrastructure built at exceptional speed, which confirms Qatar’s seriousness in hosting such a major global event for the first time in the Middle East region. He added: Lord Coe’s visit included a number of stops, starting with the important press conference, in which he explained many of the important upcoming steps to restore the spirit of world athletics, which I also stressed, because we are all in the same boat, and here I must extend my thanks, first, second and third, to the Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, and Aspire for the great work put in to achieve an ideal hosting of the most important world championship of all
He said the Diamond League is an integral part of the IAAF’s championships, adding: Qatar has consistently been at the forefront of the challenge to host the first meetings for many years, amid complete organisational, technical and logistical success, as attested by the IAAF itself, which means the partnership is what governs the relationship between us and the responsible federation. As everyone knows, Lord Coe has become the chairman of the Diamond League after being elected IAAF president, succeeding the previous president, and we have confirmed to him our support for his journey and his next steps
Qatar’s champions
Asked about the IAAF president’s praise for Qatari athletics stars, HE Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar and Asian athletics federations, said: first of all, we must extend every good wish to our talented champion Mutaz Barshim for success at the upcoming Olympics in Rio, because we hope he achieves everything we aspire to. There is no doubt that Qatar is a land of championships and event organisation, but at the same time it has also achieved great things in the world through its champions over the years, which is proof of the attention given to everything relating to Qatari athletics, technically, administratively and operationally
He said the partnership with the IAAF has extended to Aspire through the establishment of an athletics development centre under IAAF supervision, which will bring great benefit for a bright future, and there is also a push to reach an agreement with Aspetar hospital to serve as a base for treating champions from Qatar and around the world in the coming period, and that everything being done serves the benefit of world athletics and, of course, sound and proper constructive work
The IAAF and a transparent future
HE Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar and Asian athletics federations, noted that world athletics is going through difficult circumstances at present due to what has been referred to regarding the doping issue and other matters, which calls on us to highlight the importance of restructuring the future course of world athletics through the work planned by Lord Coe, who has pledged to restore athletics to its full integrity and clean practice, because the goal for anyone should be to work with integrity and determination, in a way that confirms their excellence over others on the track and field. In short, the IAAF has a long but important mission to put the sport back on the right track, especially as what has been revealed helps restore life to clean, honest work in achieving overall excellence, because the goal is to restore rights to those wronged during the past period.
He said hosting the Asian Indoor Championships is nothing new, as Qatar has hosted this championship before, and it was something of a rehearsal for another event, and today it is happening again, because hosting the Asian Championships helps gauge the readiness of the administrative and technical staff and the champions for the more important event, the 2019 World Championships, and so it will be one of the strongest championships with many technical and administrative benefits, and we wish everyone success.
HE Dahlan Al Hamad called on all national federations in every country to work with the IAAF for a bright future and better results, because whoever builds on the right foundations, according to the required principles and with complete integrity, will surely reap the rewards, especially as there are champions achieving the best marks, and it has been proven that they succeed in achieving these marks through their own work and effort, and not by relying on banned substances
