Bernard Amsalem, president of the French Athletics Federation, expressed his complete confidence in Qatar’s ability to put on an impressive World Athletics Championships in 2019, given the country’s enormous capabilities and experience, noting that the French federation was placing its expertise and resources at Qatar’s disposal, having itself organised the championships in 2003.
That came at a press conference held by Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, president of the Qatari and Asian athletics federations and IAAF vice-president, at the Qatari federation’s headquarters in Burj Al Bidda, to reveal details of the memorandum of understanding signed recently in the French city of Marseille.
At the start of the press conference, Major General Dahlan Al Hamad welcomed those present and said they were grateful for French federation president Bernard Amsalem’s interest in visiting Doha, getting to know the city and its development plans and strategy, after signing the agreement in Marseille, where Amsalem took the initiative to open the door to cooperation with the Qatari
federation and the exchange of expertise.
For his part, the French federation president expressed his great happiness at signing the memorandum of cooperation and understanding with the Qatar Athletics Federation, stressing it was highly beneficial for both sides. He said: “I am undoubtedly very happy to be in Qatar, and I thank Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatari and Asian federations, for his hospitality. I am also happy about signing the memorandum of cooperation and understanding, which was signed in France last month following a visit to Qatar by the French sports minister — a visit that marked the start of sporting relations with France. The two countries enjoy distinguished relations in all fields, and out of that friendship a cooperation agreement between the Qatari and French athletics federations was decided.”
Bernard described the qualitative sporting development currently under way in Qatar as remarkable and distinctive, noting that Qatar has truly become a genuine leader with a fertile sporting environment and modern facilities that rival those of the world’s leading sporting nations.
He said the Diamond League meeting that Qatar will host in May, as it does every year, would be a golden opportunity to exchange expertise, participation and overseas training camps between the two sides, revealing that a number of French champions, men and women, would take part in the event.
The French federation president said he had also held a session with Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, during which they discussed developing sport, particularly for children, in order to combat obesity, which is widespread in France, and that there would be further coordination to apply this campaign in Qatar too. He added: “We signed the memorandum in France as a starting point for understanding between the two sides, and there will be cooperation between France and Qatar on anti-doping, given the presence of a global centre in Doha. France is very strict against doping, with penalties sometimes reaching 10 years, and we run numerous awareness campaigns to warn of its dangers, which is why French sport is clean sport.”
The French federation president continued, saying French athletes would also be able to receive treatment in Qatar through the world-class Aspetar hospital, with which they had signed a cooperation agreement, and that training camps would also be exchanged between Qatar and France for athletes from both countries. Cooperation would not be limited to the track, he said, but would extend to sport outside the stadium, as is the case in France and other European countries, with Qatar also joining this project. “I will personally attend to follow the competitions at the Diamond League meeting,” he added.
On his impressions of Qatar, the French federation president said: “I have a positive view of Qatar. It is a friend of France, and there is great cooperation between the two countries. We are seeking even greater cooperation in sport in the coming period, and we are very happy that Qatar will host the World Championships in 2019.”
He added: “I stress that France is ready to offer any support to help Qatar advance in athletics,” stressing that he and Al Hamad, as representatives of Qatar and France, shared the same vision on sporting matters and awareness programmes, and would work together for further development.
Regarding the participation of veteran French pole vault star Renaud Lavillenie, he said: “Lavillenie is the only athlete who jumps over six metres, and he will take part in the Diamond League meeting,” in addition to the participation of numerous other French stars, whom he wished good luck in the
Diamond League meeting, noting that the French federation is one of the most important federations within the IAAF, and that there is always coordination between them and the Qatari federation, as well as the Asian federation. He added that France often hosts athletes from China and Japan in Asia and always welcomes their training camps.
Major General Dahlan Al Hamad said they were pleased with French champion Lavillenie’s participation and wished him luck at the upcoming World Championships in China, describing him as a great and experienced athlete and one of the most prominent stars in world athletics, whose participation in the Diamond League was a major addition. He concluded by stressing that their shared goal has always been to develop athletics and advance it continentally and globally.
