The IAAF evaluation delegation, headed by IAAF Vice President Sebastian Coe, began its scheduled two-day visit to look into the bid to host the 2019 World Athletics Championships. Among those who received the delegation were HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, President of the Qatar Athletics Federation
The distinguished delegation is examining Doha’s bid to host the 2019 World Athletics Championships just three weeks before the vote to determine the final decision on the host country for this prestigious championship, at the IAAF Council meeting in Monaco on 18 November this year. Doha 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 first day of the visit saw detailed presentations by the committee responsible for Doha’s 2019 bid, in the presence of the partners supporting the bid, as the delegation visited the Aspire Academy at Khalifa International Stadium and the Msheireb Enrichment Centre run by Msheireb Properties, located on Doha’s old Corniche. During the visit the delegation was briefed on further outstanding plans adopted by Doha to develop the traditional concept of the athletes’ village and create the first “Sports City” of its kind in Qatar.
The evaluation delegation was also received by Aspire Zone during its extended tour of the sports facilities of the Aspire Academy, which could host World Championships events. These facilities have long 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, demonstrating Doha’s deep experience in hosting world-leading events. The visit also highlighted the Aspire Academy’s centrepiece, Khalifa International Stadium, which is currently undergoing redevelopment to turn it into one of the most advanced and specialised stadiums for hosting a variety of sporting competitions in the world. During its visit to the players’ training area, the delegation was warmly received by members of Qatar’s national team, who were training alongside Russian sprinter and Doha 2019 bid ambassador Sergey Shubenkov. This Russian champion has added his voice to those of the world’s leading athletes backing Doha’s 2019 bid, including legendary shot put champion Valerie Adams, Canadian Commonwealth Games high jump champion Derek Drouin, and Bahamian sprint champion Chris Brown.
Hosting this world championship for the first time in the Middle East will undoubtedly help highlight an unprecedented opportunity to introduce a promising generation of athletes and fans to the world’s sporting stars. Doha today is a gateway to 450 million people in 22 countries, where 60 percent of the population is under the age of 30. This huge population will no doubt find in these sporting stars role models who will motivate them to take part in sporting events and encourage the emergence of more professional athletes in the region, indeed more sporting role models who work to spread sporting values and connect with all segments of society through sport.
After concluding its visit to the Aspire Academy, the evaluation delegation headed to the Msheireb Enrichment Centre run by Msheireb Properties. There, the distinguished delegation was briefed on a presentation of the “Msheireb Downtown Doha” centre in the heart of Doha, as well as on the site of the “Sports City” that would be dedicated entirely to serving the 2019 championships should Doha win the honour of hosting. At the heart of this “Sports City”, Msheireb Downtown Doha spans 35 hectares and includes a range of mixed-use developments. This “Sports City” will feature the finest facilities and a wide range of amenities entirely different from anything traditionally found in an athletes’ village.
The delegation is set to complete its field visit to the Emirati capital on Friday, accompanied by key members of the committee responsible for Doha’s 2019 bid. The distinguished delegation will visit the Qatar National Convention Centre, where the IAAF will hold its congress should Doha win the honour of hosting. The delegation will also visit Souq Waqif as a prominent traditional meeting and shopping landmark in the Emirati capital, Doha.
