The council hall at the Sheraton Doha hotel hosted the annual closing ceremony for the local activity of the 2011-2012 sporting season, held by the Qatar Athletics Federation. It was attended by Mr Adel Mohammed Al Baker, secretary-general, standing in for the federation’s president, who was unable to attend for health reasons, along with Mr Essa Al Harmi, assistant secretary-general, board members, and the Qatari athletics family. Mr Adel Al Baker opened the ceremony with a speech welcoming the heads and members of the committees working on the Diamond League championship, media representatives, and representatives of the sports clubs that took part in the season, as well as the clubs’ administrative and technical staff, athletes and their guardians, and honoured guests. In his speech, he noted that the Qatar Athletics Federation has long been accustomed to gathering on such a day to celebrate and bid farewell to a sporting season that has entered the history of Qatari athletics with bright pages, thanks to the efforts of the Qatari athletics family. Today, he said, we reap the fruits of these efforts by honouring those among you who excelled, whose outstanding effort drove Qatari athletics forward. The genuine and constructive interaction between the Qatari athletics family, represented by this fine elite we celebrate and honour today, has enabled Qatari athletics to take great strides on the international stage, both in terms of the sporting achievements of Qatari athletes at international championships and in the management and organisation of world championships.
He summarised in his speech the achievements made by the Qatar Athletics Federation since the board of directors took over its responsibilities three years ago, specifically at the start of 2009, pausing to recall important milestones achieved in the history of Qatari athletics, achievements that reached their peak at the world championships in the summer of 2010, when Qatar’s athletes won 4 world medals:-
• Gold for Mutaz Essa Barshim in the high jump at the World Youth Championships
• Gold for Rashid Al Manai in the high jump at the World Continental Cup
• Silver for Hamza Driouech in the 1000m at the Youth Olympic Games
• Bronze for Mohammed Al Karni in the 800m at the World Youth Championships
Our national team athletes also won numerous Asian and Arab medals, including 11 medals at the Asian Games in Guangzhou, China, in 2010, and 11 medals at the Arab Games in Doha in 2011. These world, Asian and Arab achievements made our federation the golden federation in Qatar twice within the past 3 years, an achievement we are proud of because it was achieved through the efforts of all of you as members of the Qatari athletics family.
On the matter of new Qatari records set over the past three years, the secretary-general noted that they had reached 210 records for men and women, of which 142 were new men’s records, while Qatari women athletes set 68 new records at local and international championships. Building on these achievements, 5 of our athletes have met the qualifying standards to take part in the Olympic Games, to be held next month in London, and we hope our athletes achieve wonderful results at these Games.
On the matter of achievements in managing and organising international championships, our success has been clear and outstanding, impressing everyone, with recognition from the IAAF, particularly at the World Indoor Athletics Championships held in Doha in 2010, and the superb organisation we delivered at the Diamond League championships held in 2010, 2011 and 2012. These wonderful achievements in the management and organisation of world championships did not come from nowhere, but resulted from your combined efforts and the professional, meticulous work you put into managing and organising those championships.
The secretary-general stressed that these Qatari achievements could not have been realised without the gracious patronage and attention of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Amir of the country, may God protect him, and the continuous follow-up of HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Crown Prince, president of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and the support and backing of the secretary-general of the Qatar Olympic Committee.
In closing, the secretary-general extended his thanks and appreciation to the fellow board members and to all staff of the Qatar Athletics Federation, to the heads and members of the committees working on the Diamond League championship, to those working in the various media outlets who played a central role in covering the local and international championships and in spreading sporting awareness of athletics by featuring it in the visual and print media, to the sports clubs that helped host our local and international championships, to the clubs’ administrative and technical staff, to the athletes and officials, the preparation and set-up committee and the electronic equipment committee, and to everyone who contributed an opinion, idea or observation that helped develop Qatari athletics.
Special congratulations were also extended to the board of directors of Al Sadd Sports Club and to the administrative and technical staff and players in all categories for winning the overall excellence shield for nine consecutive years, an achievement worthy of appreciation and respect.
Mr Adel Al Baker and Mr Essa Abdullah Al Harmi then honoured the heads and members of the committees working on the Diamond League championship, media professionals and journalists who covered the local and international championships, and the clubs and institutions that hosted the local championships, namely Aspire Logistics, Qatar SC, Al Ahli club, Al Rayyan club and Al Rayyan Municipality, where the cross-country championships were held at Al Rayyan Park. Athletes who set records at local and international championships were also honoured, along with the administrative and technical staff of Al Sadd Sports Club, winners of the overall excellence shield for the 2011-2012 season.
