The 23rd Asian Athletics Championships – Doha 2019 opened on the track and field at Khalifa International Stadium, with a large field of 700 athletes from 43 countries taking part, and continue until the 24th of this month.
The competition was opened by HE Sheikh Saoud bin Ali Al Thani, first deputy chairman of the Qatar Olympic Committee, in the presence of HE Dr Thani Al Kuwari, second deputy chairman of the Qatar Olympic Committee and president of the athletics federation, and HE Jassim Rashid Al Buainain, secretary general of the committee, along with a number of championship guests and heads of Asian federations.
The opening ceremony began with a parade of the sporting delegations taking part in the championships.
HE Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Asian Athletics Association and vice-president of the IAAF, delivered a speech in which he noted that Doha has hosted the biggest and most important events in athletics over 21 years, starting with Diamond League meetings, through the Asian Games and the World Indoor Championships, and up to the World Athletics Championships, which Doha will host in September for the first time in the Middle East
