Topping the podium among Arab and Asian countries doubles our responsibility
Our journey continues and development remains our constant ambition
Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, president of the Qatari and Asian athletics federations – vice-president of the IAAF, praised the brilliant achievements made by the champions of Qatar athletics in the competitions of the 17th Asian Games – Incheon 2014 – and their haul of 9 colourful medals, of which “6” were gold and “3” bronze, and topping the standings among Arab and Gulf countries and finishing runner-up among Asian and West Asian countries in the overall standings table, extending during the athletics federation board’s first meeting the warmest thanks, appreciation and praise to HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of Qatar and president of the Olympic committee, for his support of sport and athletes in general and Qatari athletics in particular until it achieved these achievements and this qualitative leap to reach the highest levels of sporting glory, highly valuing the sound guidance and sincere support of the wise leadership and those responsible for sport in our dear country, pledging to everyone that athletics will remain the spearhead of our sporting achievements, confirming that what has been achieved is the fruit of teamwork, unity and solidarity and the giving of the loyal sons of Qatari athletics, congratulating the federation board on its achievements and giving during the past period and its devotion to raising the flag of Qatari sport.
HE Major General Al Hamad opened his remarks by welcoming the members and thanking them for their valued efforts towards raising their federation and the sport to the highest levels, noting that what has been achieved could not have been achieved without the tireless work and dedication of everyone, administratively, technically and organisationally, as everyone worked with unity and solidarity towards one goal, serving the nation and Qatari sport .. saying frankly that everyone had looked upon Qatari athletics with pride and pleasure, as God granted us success in reaping the lion’s share of the medals and we contributed to raising the country’s name high, and what also distinguished the Games was Qatar achieving tenth place in Asia in the overall standings table for the first time in the history of our participation, as well as athletics breaking the record for our number of medals at the Asian Games, having reaped “6” gold medals for the first time in the history of our participation, alongside the excellence of our champions in track and field events and their also breaking the Asian Games records.
Our journey continues
He continued by saying that reaching the top can certainly be a source of joy and delight, but maintaining the leadership, the achievements and the top spot requires redoubled effort, work and dedication, so we must work to raise our resolve and effort to an even higher pace in order to boost our haul and our achievements, for just as we work, others work too and continue on the same path, so we ask everyone to give their utmost effort so that our flag remains flying high.
Big challenges ahead
His Excellency drew attention to the scale of the big challenges and events on athletics’ calendar for the 2014-2015 sporting season, noting that athletics knows no calm or rest as the schedule of participations is packed, with the World Athletics Championships in China .. 2015, and also the Rio 2016 Olympics, alongside the Military World Games in South Korea in 2015, which also form part of our participation and preparation for the future, concluding that we must benefit from the lesson of the 2014 Incheon Asiad, and that we must benefit from the lessons and the takeaways – yes, we excelled in many races and events, but we must search for the roots of the shortcomings and work to avoid them in future.
Qatar’s women in competition
Major General Dahlan Al Hamad asked the board to look into how to advance and develop our women’s participation in the Asian and international athletics Games in future, as everyone has noticed how women’s participation for many Asian countries has tipped the balance and pushed them to the top of the medals table, so this requires us to work to advance its progress in order to achieve our goals .. after which the board continued its deliberations and discussed the items listed on the meeting’s agenda.
