Asian Athletics Championships organisers unveil event details ahead of Sunday opening

Doha, April 17, 2019 - The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships announced on Tuesday details about the competition, which will take place at Khalifa International Stadium from 21-24 April.

In a press conference held at Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the organisers briefed the media on the event, which brings together nearly 700 athletes and over 400 officials and coaching staff from 43 Asian countries as the country's top sportsmen and women vie for top honours in the world's most populous continent.

The 23rd Asian Athletics Championships will be staged across four action-packed days divided into morning and evening sessions. The morning sessions start at 8:30 am and the evening sessions begin at 4:00 pm.

The event will officially start with an opening ceremony at 3:30 announcing the start of the competitions.

With the competition serving as an official test event for the IAAF World Athletics Championships that Doha hosts in September, the LOC will test all major operations, including the venue, accreditation and ticketing to ensure a smooth and spotless experience during the global showpiece in just a little over five months.

“Next Sunday marks the beginning of the 23rd Asian Athletics Championships where Doha will continue to showcase its legacy in athletics through the world-class facilities and demonstrate its readiness to host the IAAF World Athletics Championships in September for the first time ever in the Middle East," said Dahlan Al Hamad, LOC chairman, president of the Asian Athletics Association and vice president of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

“We will be trialling our facilities, security, operations, accreditation, volunteers, and ticketing ahead of the IAAF World Athletics Championships when we greet 3,500 athletes and officials from more than 200 nations as well as more than 10,000 international guests and international media personnel," Al Hamad added.

The participating athletes will compete for 186 medals in 21 men's events, 21 women's events, and a mixed relay event that makes its debut in the Asian Athletics Championships.

The LOC had put the tickets for sale through the competition's official website https://bit.ly/2Ia5PcG with a ticketing system that mirrors that of the World Championships in September.

Starting at an affordable QR 30, tickets provide a wide array of options for the public, whether athletics fans or those looking to learn about the game. Among the ticket categories on sale is the innovative option of finish-line tickets, which offers an exclusive way of watching the event.

“We designed the ticketing structure with the new fans in mind. We aim to introduce athletics to new audiences and inspire the young generations to take up athletics, and the ticket prices certainly reflect that," said Fahad Jumaa, vice president and director general of the LOC.

Up to 7,000 tickets were made available for purchase per each day of the competition, including a family deal that allows for two adults and two children to secure tickets with a 15% discount. People with disabilities and an accompanying person will enter for free.

Speaking of volunteers, Dahlan Al Hamad said: “Volunteers play a very important part in organising any event, and they reflect that development of any nation. In Qatar, the voluntary sector has developed greatly, and we have a large base from different nationalities who are up to join and support in any event. The Asian Athletics Championship will get the support from 470 volunteers."

The competition enjoys the support of its two main partners Aseel and Lulu, with the former supplying the event with water and the latter with fruits. The two companies will be working closely with the LOC to ensure an optimal and steady supply for the participating athletes and the guests of the event,

The 23rd Asian Athletics Championships will see the usual powerhouses go head-to-head for the number one spot in Asia's athletics. After an initial period of Japanese dominance in the early history of the event, China took over as undisputed champion for 17 consecutive editions until it was unseated by last edition's host and eventual winner, India.

Tickets are available for purchase through the official website https://bit.ly/2Ia5PcG

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