doha 2017

Top officials from International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will be in Doha today to review the proposed plans of Doha’s bid to host the 2017 IAAF World Championships.

The IAAF World Championships is among the biggest event in the international sports calendar following the Summer Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup.

On September 1, 2011, the Qatar Olympic Committee and Qatar Association of Athletics Federation (QAAF) launched a bid to host the prestigious event in 2017.

The Chairman of the Doha 2017 Bid Committee is Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary of the Qatar Olympic Committee.

The next two days, October 5 and 6, will mark an important milestone of the bid as the IAAF Evaluation Commission meets with the Doha 2017 Bid Committee to discuss the exciting plans proposed for the 2017 Championships.

The IAAF Evaluation Commission is headed by Bob Hersh, the Senior Vice-President of the IAAF.

Hersh, from the United States, contributes significantly to the leadership of the IAAF and the continual improvements to worldwide Athletics competitions.

Other members of the Commission are Cesar Moreno Bravo, an honourary member of the IAAF Council from Mexico and a highly respected figure in the Athletics family, Hamad Kalkaba Malboum, the area representative for Africa on the IAAF Council and the President of the Cameroon National Olympic Committee, Alberto Juantoreno Danger, the IAAF Council member representing the Athletes’ Commission and world famous former Cuban athlete, and Pierre Weiss, the long-standing Secretary General of the IAAF.

Weiss will step down at the end of next month after contributing significantly to the growth and development of International Athletics for many years.

The Commission also has members of the top management of the IAAF, Nick Davies and Paul Hardy and members from the IAAF marketing partners.

Dahlan Al Hamad, Vice Chairman of the Bid Committee and also Vice President of the IAAF, said: “It is always with honour that I welcome my colleagues from the IAAF to Doha. I especially look forward to this visit because we are talking about something that is so important to the IAAF and to global Athletics - how to build a stronger future.”

During the visit, the IAAF Evaluation Commission will tour the proposed venues for the Championships but will more importantly discuss the plans and vision for the event together with the Bid Committee.

Abdulla Al Zaini, President of the QAAF and Executive Director of Doha 2017 Bid Committee said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the IAAF Evaluation Commission to Doha. We have a lot of exciting ideas to discuss with them over the next two days and believe that together with their input we will have a plan for a World Championships in 2017 that will set new standards for Athletics.”

Also arriving in Doha today is the World and Olympic Champion Andreas Thorkildsen.

The Norwegian javelin star is visiting Doha to show his support for the 2017 IAAF World Championships bid. Thorkildsen said: “I had a great experience competing in Doha and I can see that their experience in and commitment to Athletics will continue to grow. If Athletics wants to set new standards for a World Championships that will take my sport to the next level then Doha is without doubt the right place.”

© The Peninsula