Al Hamad: Doha to Consolidate Athletics Legacy in Qatar through Ideal Organization of Asian Championship

Doha, April 16 (QNA) - The Organizing Committee of the Asian Athletics Championship 2019 (Doha 2019) announced today the completion of all preparations for the launch of the competitions from April 12 to 24 at Khalifa International Stadium. HE Chairman of the Organizing Committee of the Championship Dahlan Al Hamad said at a press conference held today at Qatar Olympic Committee that Doha will continue to consolidate the legacy of athletics in Qatar through an exemplary organization of the Asian Championship in its 23rd edition, benefiting from the state-of-the-art sports facilities in the country. HE Al Hamad, who is also President of the Asian Athletics Association and Vice President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), said that Doha will continue through its organization of the Asian Championship to prove its readiness to host the IAAF World Athletics Championships in September, which will be held here for the first time in the Middle East. HE Al Hamad revealed that the Asian Championship will be attended by 700 elite Asian athletes and more than 400 officials from 43 countries from Asia. His Excellency explained that the Asian Championship will not only be an event in which the best professional players will compete, but a formal test of what will be the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 scheduled after about five months, where facilities, security, safety and permit services and tickets and other services will be launched, as well as various operations ahead of the world championships, which will welcome about 3,500 athletes and officials from more than 200 countries around the world, in addition to the participation of more than ten thousand international guests and international media. His Excellency announced the readiness of Khalifa International Stadium to receive guests in an air-conditioned atmosphere that allows athletes to compete in ideal conditions. HE Al Hamad said that Hamad International Airport and all the facilities are fully ready to receive guests, and tickets are also available on the official website so that athletics fans in Qatar, Asia and all over the world can get tickets for the scheduled competitions and the ticket price starts at QR 30 and with reasonable prices to all and offers the fans many options including final line tickets that will offer fans a different exceptional experience. HE Al Hamad said during the conference that Qatar has a long history of sports for more than 12 years in hosting many major international tournaments, and Doha will therefore use this accumulated expertise to host an ideal and exceptional tournament that will be remembered by athletes and Asian fans. HE Al Hamad said that the championship will be held every two years under the umbrella of the Asian association and that Doha 2019 championship will witness the holding of the Asian athletics congress meeting on Saturday, one day before the opening of the championship at Wyndham Grand Regency Hotel and the meeting will be attended by 44 Asian countries. Head of marketing and communication committee of the organizing committee Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani said that a plan has been prepared to attract the fans to attend the competitions at Khalifa International Stadium by addressing embassies and schools and making advertisements in the streets and commercial complexes, pointing out that there is a great demand on tickets from fans to watch the tournament. Deputy head of the organizing committee and director general Fahad Juma said the championship will be one of the most important tournaments in the history of the Asian championships in terms of participation, ideal organization and media and fan attendance, adding it will be a real rehearsal before hosting the World Athletics Championships in September. The deputy head of the organizing committee said that Doha will make everything possible to make the event a success, which is the title of all the major events organized in Qatar. For his part, head of Stadium and Logistics Committee at Khalifa International Stadium Salah Al Saadi said that the cooled stadium is fully prepared for the competitions that will be held on the field and track, adding that a playground has been set up for shooting games. Champions' training will be held inside Al Ahli Sports Club and the permit centers will be in the Women's Sports Committee hall, he added. Al Saadi said that the media center of the championship at Khalifa Stadium is ready, adding about 45 media outlets are expected to cover the tournament. The players 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 showpiece. The championship program will not include the 20-kilometer marathon or the 50km race. For her part, head of planning and operations committee Iman Al Emadi said that the Asian Championship will witness the participation of 470 volunteers who are part of those who will participate in the next World Athletics Championships. She said that the volunteers were well prepared and will contribute to show the civilized and developed face of Qatar. (QNA)