The Athletics Federation continued its administrative and technical successes on the continental stage thanks to well-planned work and a determination to present the best possible image. Following the success in winning the right to host the 2019 World Championships, the major success of our champions in breaking records at numerous international championships, and successful cooperation with many continental federations, the memorandum of understanding, or new agreement, in Paris was the most important development, carrying many positive headlines. Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar and Asian federations and IAAF vice president, signed a cooperation memorandum of understanding with the French federation in the past few hours – one of the most important agreements given its positive impact on Qatari, and even Asian and Arab, athletics, as it helps benefit from unified positions and joint work, and the exchange of expertise, training camps and coordination in all fields. All this took place amid close attention from representatives of 23 Mediterranean countries, in addition to Britain’s Lord Sebastian Coe, IAAF vice president.
This agreement will help unify positions on the global stage and foster a great deal of joint work, as it first helps establish the general picture of what serves both parties in the journey of world athletics administratively and technically, going as far as offering the opportunity to reach common ground that serves the careers of the champions themselves in both countries.
Major General Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, president of the Qatar and Asian federations, noted that he considers this agreement to be of great benefit to both parties in the coming period, as it helps reach positive common ground in terms of joint administrative work, or by providing many resources for technical cooperation, especially since Qatari athletics champions will have the opportunity to take part in numerous training camps abroad in various French cities, in addition to the French team having the opportunity at any time to hold a camp in Doha, which helps facilitate joint training between the champions of both national teams.
Major General Al Hamad affirmed that the memorandum, or agreement, is of great benefit to the Qatar federation, as it allows for exchange visits between the two federations and their working committees, particularly in the pursuit of the best technical and administrative results and comprehensive, capable administrative work. He said Qatari athletics has become the focus of attention thanks to the great support from officials and the success of our country in securing the right to host the athletics World Championships in 2019, and that everyone recognises that Qatar has achieved many successes in hosting numerous championships, from the World Indoor Championships to the Diamond League, and before that in hosting the Grand Prix over long periods with the participation of some of the world’s greatest champions of all time.
He affirmed that the memorandum of understanding established many mutual understandings for the coming phase of joint work, even in administrative work, since the goal is to serve world athletics and, before that, to serve Qatari and French athletics. He noted that the countries present for the signing of the agreement pointed to its importance given its benefit to the region as a whole, especially since everyone benefits from Qatari successes on the Asian or Arab stage, and that the goal is to develop world athletics in the period ahead.
