The Peninsula Hails Qatar's Support for Athletes

Doha, July 25 (QNA) - Qatari English newspaper The Peninsula hailed the State of Qatar's support for athletes, saying that while the organisers of the Tokyo 2020 Olympics were facing a gigantic task to make the mega event happen, athletes from some countries also needed assistance in their preparations for the Games and generous Qatar was right there for the support. In this regard, the paper said that apart from providing vaccination to the athletes, Qatar hosted a Refugee Olympic Team's training camp to help them prepare for the Olympics, and days before the Tokyo 2020, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) completed its vaccination programme for the athletes who were unable to be vaccinated against the coronavirus in their home countries, prior to their departure for Tokyo. The paper stressed that the initiative came within the framework of QOC's partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in coordination with the National Olympic Committees. Apart from Qatar, Rwanda was the other centre to provide vaccines to groups of participants in the Olympics and Paralympic Games, the paper added. Two weeks ahead of the Olympics, the QOC also hosted 29-athlete Refugee Olympic Team for a training camp providing them best facilities at state-of-the-art Aspire Dome in Doha, the paper said, pointing out that the training camp for athletes representing 11 countries came within the framework of Qatar's support for refugees around the world, and as an additional initiative that reflects the well-established partnership between the QOC, the IOC and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees through the Olympic Refugee Foundation. The QOC is a supportive and founding partner in the International Olympic Refugee Foundation which aims to continue the efforts adopted by the IOC over the past years to support refugees all over the world, the paper noted. The paper also referred to HE QOC President Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani's meeting with the athletes, as he motivated them ahead of their campaign in Games. In conclusion, The Peninsula said that Qatar is taking part in Olympics with 15 athletes, who are hoping to win medals for the country. (QNA)