Prince Nawaf bin Mohammed, an IAAF Council member, expressed his happiness at being in Doha once again and taking part in the Asian federation’s proceedings and the meetings held to shape the future of world athletics. He said Doha has been, and remains, a capital of great success in hosting many global and continental meetings and events, so the fresh success seen in this large gathering of the yellow continent’s national federation presidents was no surprise. He noted that world athletics is seeking to build a new phase defined by full trust and positive participation, whether in administrative, technical or organisational work, and thanked Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar and Asian athletics federations and IAAF vice president, for the ideal hosting and excellent work carried out for the success of world and Asian athletics.
Talib Faisal
Dr Talib Faisal, president of the Iraqi Athletics Federation, expressed his happiness at the great success achieved by the Asian federation’s meeting in the heart of Doha, saying it was no surprise for Qatar, given its record of hosting major championships and meetings. He said everyone who took part in these important and coordination meetings had achieved all the desired goals, and he thanked Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad for providing every means to achieve the goal of these meetings, especially as the IAAF seeks to brief all national federation presidents in Asia on the purposeful steps to develop athletics in the future, since everyone who loves the sport must look at every new development positively and contribute ideas capable of achieving success.
Roland Saade
Roland Saade, recently re-elected president of the Lebanese Athletics Federation for a second term, affirmed that Qatar is a land of success in any event it holds, excelling in hosting and in major events at any time. He said: “I am happy to be back in the heart of Doha today, taking part actively in the Asian and international federation meetings, especially in the pursuit of everything new in world athletics. I believe Major General Al Hamad is consistently capable of achieving success in any event through his insightful vision for an ideal future, and in our federation we are constantly working to develop ourselves and adopt a fully progressive approach rather than dwelling on the past – a full future full of successful youthful thinking.” He thanked everyone who contributed to the success of these meetings, saying they reflected the unity of the Asian continent.
Ruqaya Al Ghasara
Ruqaya Al Ghasara, the great Bahraini champion and Asian Athletics Association member, stressed the importance of the Doha meetings in shaping the future of world athletics, especially given the steps being taken to develop the sport worldwide. She said: “There is no doubt that the Asian federation’s meetings in Doha carry many positives, as they reflect the vision for the future of athletics on our continent and the new phase world athletics is going through, based on what IAAF president Sebastian Coe has proposed in his effort to reinvigorate the sport and restore its reputation after the major storm it went through recently.” She added that thanks must go to Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar and Asian federations, for the successful and indeed ideal hospitality shown for the Asian federation board meetings and the pioneering steps achieved for the benefit of the new generation.
Kareem Ibrahim
India’s Kareem Ibrahim, a member of the Asian Athletics Association, affirmed the great success of the meetings held in Doha, thanks to the ideal organisation and the proposals that were studied extensively over the two days, as well as those put forward by the IAAF. He said: “I am happy to be back in the heart of Doha and to see the expected successes, especially as Major General Al Hamad, president of the Asian federation, provided every means for a successful gathering, along with a large number of positive proposals. I hope we can contribute to restoring world athletics to the image it deserves through the steps being studied at this stage.”
