After years of planning and meticulous prep ups, Qatar yesterday successfully opened the 2019 Doha World Athletics Championships with fanfare. The opening ceremony was attended by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and scores of dignitaries.
The first day’s action yesterday was the culmination of five years’ hard work from the time the track and field’s biggest event was awarded to Doha in 2014. During this time, there were hurdles to overcome and challenges to be met and every bit of preparation - with the induction of expert personnel into the Local Organizing Committee from around the world - was met by Doha with positivity knowing this is one global sports event that it had not staged before. In 2010, Qatar’s Aspire Academy hosted the IAAF World Athletics Indoors Championships but not the outdoor worlds.
The renovation of the Khalifa International Stadium - Qatar’s iconic sports venue - was done with the knowledge that it will be used not just for the on-going World Athletics Championships but for matches during the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in another three years’ time. The venue - complete with hi-tech cooling technology and lighting standards - was first used for a football game, the 2017 Amir Cup final watched by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and FIFA President Gianni Infantino and 50,000 football fans. Since then the Khalifa International Stadium has been reset for track and field use to accommodate athletics action with ease for the on-going spectacle.
IAAF President Sebastian Coe, a frequent visitor to Doha, said IAAF has a trusted partner in Qatar.
“Qatar has been hosting official IAAF events for over 21 years and in the organising committee we have a trusted partner who is committed to delivering a World Athletics Championship which makes a real difference to the world of athletics,” Coe said at during one of his many visits to Doha.
“The fact that this is our first championship in the Middle East is hugely exciting. It means we can and should do things differently and provides an opportunity to reconsider what is possible in terms of new formats to appeal to spectators in the stadium or viewers around the world. We are encouraged by what we have seen over this last week and look forward to working with athletes, member federations and partners to deliver an outstanding World Athletics Championships.”
Easy access to Doha has been a major factor in fans, athletes, officials and volunteers making their way to Doha. With direct flights from over 110 destinations around the world, the track and field venue of the Khalifa International Stadium is located only 15 minutes from Doha’s downtown area of West Bay and sits in the middle of the world-renowned sporting centre Aspire Zone. The message for overseas and home fans is clear: Come to the biggest show in the world and watch high-octane athletics action the next eight days! Yesterday’s action was spectacular in every way!
