Doha Diamond League rehearsal for 2019 Worlds: Dr Thani Al-Kuwari
DOHA, May 3, 2018 – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) second vice president and Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) president Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman Al-Kuwari said that the 2018 Doha Diamond League is one of the most important meets of the league given that it is the first of the season and the oldest in the Middle East, with the highest champion participation.
Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), he said that the 9th edition, which will be held tomorrow at Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium, will be more special than the past editions as 20 global champions, Olympians and 150 athletes will be participating, led by Qatar's high jump world champion Mutaz Barshim, the 2017 IAAF Athlete of the Year.
Dr Al-Kuwari added that the Doha meet this year will work as a mini rehearsal for the 2019 World Championships in athletics, which will be hosted for the first time in the Middle East. The 10th edition of Doha Diamond League next year, he said, will act as the final rehearsal for the championship and will be organised at Khalifa International Stadium, the venue of the World Championships. The Suhaim bin Hamad Stadium will be used for training purposes only.
In 2019 Doha will host three tournaments before the World Championships in August, including the Gulf tournament in March, the Asian tournament in April, and the Doha Diamond league in May.
Al-Kuwari said the federation, with cumulative experience in hosting athletics championships, will offer a world-class and fascinating world championship and will be a legacy for the fans of the sport around the world.
Talking about tomorrow's event, he said this Doha Diamond League will see the largest Qatari participation with 10 track and field athletes, including Abdellelah Haroun running the 400m, 2017 winner Abderrahman Samba running the 400m hurdles, and Ahmed Bader in the javelin. For the first time, Qatari youth Mohanad Khamis will participate in 3,000m steeplechase and Jamal Hairane in 800m run, whereas the rest of the athletes will participate to gain experience and compete against world champions, he added.
He hoped that Qatari athletes win more than one title, al-Kuwari said.
Talking about Barshim, al-Kuwari said Barshim continues to progress and that the Qatari star athlete is following in the steps of Jamaican legend Usain Bolt, who retired last year. The Qatari champion will be the next major athlete after Bolt according to analysts as Barshim enjoys the same charisma, which fans adore, al-Kuwari said.
He added that the organising committee of the 2019 World Championships is planning to invite Bolt to attend the event next year, along with the Doha Diamond League meet. It would strongly enhance the concept of sports tourism in Qatar, he said.
Asked if QAF intends to change the date of the Doha Diamond League meet from the beginning of the season to the middle or to the end in order to witness season-finales, al-Kuwari said that May is better than August in terms of weather, and that kicking off the season in Doha motivates the crowd to attend.
Share this News
Google
Apple
Facebook