Two back-to-back blue-riband sports events and Qatar pulled it off in a slick fashion. Firstly the IAAF 2019 World Athletics Championships from Sept 27 to Oct 6 and then the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games from Oct 12-16. The organization of the track and field show took years to complete and manage but the five-day ANOC Games was a different success story.
Awarded in June this year, Qatar had a mere four months to prepare and deliver the Games. To host 1237 athletes from 97 countries competing in 14 disciplines for 350 medals, any new host - after San Diego pulled the plug as hosts in June - would have found this proposal impossible to manage in just four months. Initially the Beach Games were to be held in San Diego from October 10-15 but then Doha stepped up.
A couple of high profile events within a timeframe of just three weeks is a phenomenal achievement by Qatari government. Athletes from nearly 200 countries featured at the IAAF World Athletics Championships as fans visited the iconic Khalifa International Stadium in their thousands for the 10-day event. The Local Organizing Committee of both events won new fans in IAAF President Sebastian Coe and Gunilla Lindberg, secretary general of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).
“The world’s athletes have put on the best show in the history of the IAAF World Athletics Championships. These performances are incredible but credit must also go to the facilities and conditions provided by the host country. Doha created conditions on the field of play and in the warm up that were unsurpassed,” Coe said after the championships concluded at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Lindberg said bringing the ANOC World Beach Games to Qatar was the right decision. “It’s a great choice because Qatar is used to organising big sports competition. I’m absolutely sure (Qatar) was the right choice. It’s a new event, so the stands are not so big -- but we have opened up for everyone to come,” she added. “Qatar has done a good job with the transportation and the setup of the venues,” said Lindberg, adding that organisers had just six days to shift from the IAAF World Athletics Championships to the ANOC World Beach Games. “It’s amazing,” Lindberg said.
French 3x3 basketball coach Yann Julien said Qatar deserved praise for preparing the games in “record time” of just four months after San Diego pulled out as hosts in June. “It’s really well organised,” Julien said. He was also impressed with the transportation and provision of air conditioned tents for athletes to cool down in.
Well done, Qatar. A gold show all the way!
