HE Lieutenant General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, president of the Asian and Qatar athletics federations and IAAF vice president, affirmed that the reform agenda being carried out by the IAAF under the leadership of Lord Sebastian Coe is fully in line with the Asian Athletics Association’s own approach and does not conflict with any part of the development agenda Al Hamad put in place as soon as he took over the leadership of Asian athletics three years ago, a term that was unanimously renewed for four years, ending in 2019.
Speaking at a press conference following the conclusion of the Asian federation’s 85th board meeting at the Marriott Hotel, Doha, yesterday, Dahlan Al Hamad said the board, after continuous deliberations, had reached many important decisions that would help advance Asian athletics, chief among them keeping pace with the IAAF’s reforms under the banner of good governance. He said a committee had been formed to study the IAAF’s new statutes so they could be approved at the Asian federation’s general assembly, to be held on the sidelines of the Asian Men’s Championship in India in the middle of next year.
The Asian federation’s president added that a committee would draw up a short-term plan running to 2019 for the Asian federation’s championships, to achieve further development before the end of the current board’s term.
Asian athletics on the right track
Major General Al Hamad revealed that Asian athletics is on the right track thanks to the great work being carried out by the board, especially regarding championship marketing and improving the level of technical performance across the continent, including ongoing negotiations with a major company to handle electronic timing for championships, in addition to the federation’s success in securing significant marketing revenues related to marathons.
Al Hamad explained that contracts had been signed with marathon sponsors, which has started generating financial returns for the Asian athletics federation, noting that the federation can now rely on the continent’s own resources for further development of the sport.
Athletics in the school curriculum
Dahlan Al Hamad affirmed that, as part of the federation’s interest in future generations, developing the sport and instilling it in children, a programme is under way to introduce athletics into the school curriculum through ministries of education across Asia, in order to spread a culture of the sport on one hand and build healthier generations able to contribute to life on the other, noting that Asia is home to more than 60 percent of the world’s youth, and that the future will belong to it in terms of human resources.
Al Hamad added that, in this context, the introduction of the youth championship had achieved the desired success in Asia, starting with the first edition hosted by Doha and the second edition to be hosted by Thailand in a few months, noting that several countries had put themselves forward to host the championship and that, as federation president, he was not concerned about this since the work was proceeding steadily.
The Asian federation president affirmed that introducing athletics into the school curriculum would have a major impact on future generations, although it requires great effort and conviction, adding: “I believe the world now has the conviction, given the emergence and spread of health problems among children such as obesity, which will push everyone to implement this programme aimed at safety before development in sport.” He noted that caring for the coming generation and those after it would only require renewed determination to succeed.
Television broadcasting
The president of the Asian Athletics Association said the federation is now negotiating with major television companies to boost the federation’s financial resources on one hand and spread the sport’s culture on the other, since television is a partner in every detail of development. Al Hamad predicted that their efforts in this area would bear a great deal of fruit in the coming period, given the importance of television coverage.
Full support for the reforms
The Asian federation’s president affirmed their absolute support for Lord Sebastian Coe in the reform programme he is pursuing at the IAAF, saying the Asian federation was one of the supporters of Lord Coe’s election manifesto as federation president and would remain so, being convinced of what the British lord is doing for athletics, noting that the Asian continent has 60 percent of the world’s youth and that this programme serves future generations, most of whom come from Asia.
Condolences from the continent to Qatar and Thailand
Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Asian Athletics Association, conveyed the deep condolences of the federation’s board and the Asian athletics family to the noble people of Qatar on the passing of the late Father Amir Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, whose loss was described as immense given that he was one of the world’s decision-makers. He also offered condolences to the Thai people on the death of the King of Thailand.
Doping has shown the ugly face of athletes in athletics
HE Major General Dahlan Al Hamad described the doping scandals as showing the ugly face of the athletes involved, saying the United Nations was responsible for addressing the issue, as UN bodies serve as the full custodian for tackling it, so as Asian federations they stood united behind the programme of Lord Sebastian Coe, IAAF president, in fighting this phenomenon, which Al Hamad described as ugly. He affirmed that dealing with it begins with awareness and programmes highlighting its dangers, followed by warnings, especially since fighting it requires more education, caution and awareness of the danger it poses to athletes, and that he believed the effort to combat it would succeed within the reform campaign.
Al Hamad: support of the Qatar Olympic Committee president behind Doha hosting the Asian athletics meeting
Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Asian and Qatar athletics federations and IAAF vice president, extended the continent’s sincere thanks to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, president of the Qatar Olympic Committee. Al Hamad said HE’s support was behind Doha successfully hosting the Asian athletics federation’s meetings twice in less than a year.
Major General Al Hamad said world athletics, despite the storms and difficulties it went through following the doping scandals, continues to shine as the mother of all sports, with a swift response coming at the Rio Olympics, where athletics drew all eyes and its venues were packed with spectators. He thanked British Lord Sebastian Coe, IAAF president, saying his presence in Doha on the sidelines of these meetings demonstrated his strong commitment to bringing about radical change in the sport’s structure.
