Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, president of the Qatari and Asian federations and IAAF vice-president, delivered a moving address at the ceremony honouring veteran staff and retired coaches, saying: “This honouring is part of our federation’s duty towards dear colleagues who worked hard and delivered results and thus deserved our recognition.” He added that the ceremony, though modest in its arrangements, was significant in its content and meaning. Major General Al Hamad continued: “This group we honour today gave great, wonderful and blessed efforts over the many years in which they worked with diligence and dedication in the service of Qatari athletics since its founding to this day. Their efforts over decades of work at the federation contributed to developing its administrative, technical and financial operations and to achieving many wonderful accomplishments for the federation, whether as staff in administrative offices or as coaches on the training grounds, where many Qatari athletes who trained under the coaches we honour today went on to achieve numerous international accomplishments for the State of Qatar. These distinguished staff also witnessed the federation’s earliest beginnings, when it was modest in its financial and human resources, yet they still managed to deliver many achievements at the administrative, technical and organisational level and raised those standards for the better, pushing the federation forward with steady, solid steps carrying the scent of sincerity, sacrifice, perseverance and selflessness, perfumed by the sweat of their tireless efforts. They were the first building block and an active part of the basic structure on which the federation was built in the seventies and eighties of the last century, and their outstanding efforts have continued to this day, still carrying the same authenticity and professional competence that has always been, and remains, a hallmark of excellence, bearing the fragrance of the past and present and charting a path for those who will follow them in this work.”
Major General Dahlan Al Hamad went on to say: “The way of life, as you know, my brothers, is that God Almighty has set a measure for everything, as He says in His words — in the name of God, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful — ‘And everything with Him is measured,’ and ‘God has appointed a measure for all things.’ This also applies to the work that a person performs, for God has honoured mankind and granted them the energy to work for many years of their lives, just as He also honoured them with a period of rest in old age. In accordance with this divine law, mankind has established many regulations, including the legal retirement age for ending service, which is what we celebrate today, honouring this group of federation staff who have reached that legal age, in gratitude and recognition from the federation for their outstanding efforts. Today, I can only offer them my thanks and appreciation for the great efforts they gave to the federation throughout their long years of service, and we ask God to grant them lasting health and safety, and a peaceful life full of joy and happiness among their families and loved ones. It is hard for us to part with them and not have them with us at work, and we will miss them, for they left a fine mark on us and were dear colleagues who served Qatar, and Qatar is proud of their service and dedication… they were loyal, and Qatar has been loyal to them and honoured them, giving to them as they gave to it… and success comes from God.”
