The evaluation delegation, headed by IAAF Vice President Sebastian Coe, concluded the agenda of its scheduled two-day visit to the Qatari capital to look into the bid to host the 2019 World Athletics Championships. The delegation arrived in the Qatari capital to look into Doha’s bid to host the 2019 championships ahead of the vote to select the host city for this prestigious sporting championship, which will take place at the IAAF Council meeting in Monaco on 18 November this year. Doha had officially submitted its bid to host this sporting event on 25 September, going up against Barcelona in Spain and Eugene in the United States, both of which the delegation had already visited earlier this month
The second and final day of the evaluation delegation’s visit saw detailed presentations supporting the country’s bid to host the championships. The distinguished delegation also visited the Qatar National Convention Centre, which could host the IAAF Congress at the same time should Qatar win the honour of hosting. This congress takes place once every two years alongside this prestigious championship and is attended by IAAF Council members, honorary members and three representatives from each national federation. There is no doubt that the facilities currently available in Qatar are capable of accommodating all these events and more.
Speaking at the press conference, IAAF Vice President and head of the evaluation delegation Sebastian Coe said: “We are looking for the city that understands why it wants to host these Games. After listening to the athletes [Mutaz Barshim and Mariam Farid] today, it is very clear what they think these Games could do for athletics – not just in Qatar but in this Middle East.”
During its two-day visit, the delegation also visited the Aspire Academy facilities, which could host the World Athletics Championships events. These facilities have played an active role in hosting numerous global sporting events, including the 2006 Asian Games, the 2010 World Indoor Athletics Championships and the 2011 Arab Games, reflecting Qatar’s deep experience in hosting world-leading events. The committee responsible for Doha’s bid to host the 2019 championships believes that hosting this world championship for the first time in the Middle East will undoubtedly help highlight an unprecedented opportunity in an entirely new market. Doha today is a gateway to 450 million people in 22 countries, where 60 percent of the population is under the age of 30. Sporting competitions thus offer an opportunity to showcase sporting talent in a new region, in front of a new generation and a new audience of fans, partners and viewers who have never before taken part in a sporting championship of this level and scale. This huge population will no doubt find in these sporting stars role models that motivate them to take part in sporting events, and encourage the emergence of more professional athletes in the region, and more sporting role models who work to spread sporting values and connect with all segments of society through sport. During this visit, the evaluation delegation also met members of Qatar’s national team, led by Mutaz Barshim, who was training alongside Russian sprinter and Doha 2019 bid ambassador Sergey Shubenkov. Speaking as a member of Qatar’s national athletics team, sixteen-year-old champion Mariam Farid said: “As a Qatari athlete, I hope with all my heart that Qatar wins its bid to host the 2019 World Athletics Championships. Everyone in Qatar hopes we get the chance to show the whole world the sporting talent Qatari women possess, because we are a country with a rich sporting record. And as a Muslim woman who wears the hijab, I want to show everyone that I can play sport and also represent my beloved country. How I wish I could take part in the 2019 World Athletics Championships on the soil of my beloved country, Qatar, and raise my country’s name high. Winning this championship on Qatari soil would mean a great deal to me. There is no doubt that Doha hosting the 2019 World Athletics Championships would inspire generations across the GCC and Arab countries to take part in sporting competitions, girls especially. It would also encourage many more people to play sport and take part in competitions to represent their countries. From this platform, I invite girls to join in and take part, to discover the irresistible enjoyment that sporting competitions hold.”
