WATCH: Doha Worlds best in history in terms of quality, says IAAF President
Once again, Qatar has shown the world that blockade or no blockade, it will continue to rise above its challenges to reach new heights of success.
With the successful execution of the biggest athletics tournament in the world, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) World Athletics Championships that concluded in Doha yesterday, the nation has confirmed its leading role as a sports hub of the region.
Although this was the first time an Arab nation hosted the mega event, the tireless efforts of all concerned authorities in Qatar ensured the event ran smoothly with strict security measures in place through the 10-day extravaganza.
IAAF President, Sebastian Coe has described Doha Worlds as the best in history in terms of the quality and depth of performances produced by the athletes of more than 200 nations.
Speaking after the final evening session on Sunday, Coe noted that six championship records had been set, 43 countries had won medals, and athletes from 68 different nations had achieved at least one top-eight placing.
There have been 21 area records – double the number from 2017 – and 86 national records have been broken, underlining the global reach of the sport.
"The world’s athletes have put on the best show in the history of the IAAF World Athletics Championships, according to the competition performance rankings which are used as an objective measure of the quality of international competition.
"These performances are incredible but credit must also go to the facilities and conditions provided by the host country. Doha has created conditions on the field of play and in the warm-up that is unsurpassed," Coe said.
Vice-Chairman of the Organizing Committee and Director General of the World Athletics Championship Doha 2019, Dahlan Al Hamad said Qatar gave its best to become good hosts of the tournament.
"We tried to maximize our efforts to make things good. We hope that athletes will go home with good memories of Qatar," he is quoted to have said by Qatar Tribune.
Most of the athletes who participated here have been happy, he added.
"We are really thrilled that we received them. We are really thrilled that we are a partner with the IAAF to expand the horizon of athletics in the Middle East and the MENA region. This is really important for us because we believe that athletics has to be in this region. We believe that there are generations who are hungry for athletics.
"If we go back to 1997, athletics was just about the national team. Now, we can see that the number of fans in athletics is really increasing. Also, we are happy because, in Qatar, we have more than 100 communities. Our duty is to make those communities celebrate and see their athletes," Al Hamad noted.
He further underlined that the mega event will inspire the young generation to take up the sport and it will leave a lasting impact in the region.
“Our legacy here is to make [our] new generation, those kids, interested in sports," he said, according to Gulf Times.
Doha Worlds gave Qatar more than just the honor of hosting the prestigious event. On Friday evening, Qatar's legendary high-jumper, Mutaz Barshim defended his world champion title, making the nation swell with pride and joy.
Barshim's victory was preceded by Aberrahman Samba's who won the bronze medal at the 400 meters hurdles earlier on in the championships.
HH the Amir was awarded IAAF Golden Order of Merit, in appreciation of His Highness' support and to Qatar's hosting of World Athletics Championships. On behalf of HH the Amir, Chair of the championships' organizing committee received the order of merit from IAAF President. #QNA pic.twitter.com/y1xxbU3owz
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) October 6, 2019
Moreover, yesterday, the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) awarded His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani the Golden Order of Merit, in appreciation of the Amir's support and to Qatar's hosting of the 17th World Athletics Championships.
On behalf of the Amir, HE President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), and chair of the World Athletics Championships organizing committee, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani received the order of merit from the IAAF President, on the sidelines of the closing ceremony of the championships hosted by Doha.
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Great work!! Congratulation Qatar. The entire event and organizing was excellent; I felt really proud. The final light show was excellent too. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpSR6CTl2kU).
Definitely a forerunner event proclaiming the successful conduction of FIFA World Cup 2022.
God blesses
Good work by DOHA. I enjoyed the games.