Sports
From The Report: Qatar 2015
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Qatar is ramping up its production schedule in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the state is allocating around $200bn for the tournament and associated projects, with the money to be invested in an extensive programme of infrastructure and service development. However, Qatar is looking beyond the World Cup and aims to establish itself as a global centre of excellence for all aspects of sport. To this end the Ministry of Youth and Sports was founded by the government in June 2013 and is expected to strengthen the long-term development of athletics in the state, improving planning and oversight, and consolidating the government’s involvement in the sector. Other notable institutions leveraging the growing concentration of sector expertise include the Aspire Academy for sports and the Aspetar Sports Medicine and Orthopaedic Hospital located in the Aspire Zone, an integrated complex of sports facilities, all of which should ensure the growth of the sector’s international standing moving forward.

This chapter contains an interview with Dahlan Al Hamad, President, Qatar Athletics Federation; and Vice President, International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF).

Articles from this Chapter

Overview

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar paves the way for future events
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The state’s position as a sporting centre is forming an increasingly important part of its reputation and image. When Qatar was awarded the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in 2010, it marked a breakthrough in sporting development not only in Qatar, but the wider MENA region. The state has hosted a wide range of high-profile international sporting events, which has paved the way for the country to become more than a place for the world’s leading athletes to perform for a few brief…

Interview

Dahlan Al Hamad, President, Qatar Athletics Federation, and Vice-President, International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF)
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Interview:Dahlan Al Hamad Where does Qatar stand in terms of planning and preparation for the 2019 World Athletics Championships? What facilities are required for the event? DAHLAN AL HAMAD: We won the bid to host the 2019 Athletics World Championships in November 2014 in Monaco, and planning is now under way for the event. The bid included plans for an enormous Athletics Village. Located in Msheireb, it will be the first in IAAF history to combine the hosting of athletes, media, the IAAF…