Doha 2019 organisers vow to stage ‘highly successful’ World Championships

Doha 2019 organisers have vowed to stage a “highly successful” IAAF World Championships at the Khalifa International Stadium in two years’ time.

Athletics’ flagship event is set to take place in the Middle East for the first time in history with approximately 2000 athletes from over 200 countries expected to compete.

Renovation works on the 40,000-capacity Khalifa International Stadium were completed earlier this year and President of the Organising Committee, H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al Thani, is excited about the prospect of hosting the world’s third biggest sporting event.

He said: “Hosting global athletics’ flagship event is a natural next step on our historic journey.

The IAAF flag has handed over to Doha at the @officiallondon2017 Stadium! #Doha2019 is next! pic.twitter.com/D8Mx0K9Vjn

— Doha 2019 (@doha_2019) August 13, 2017

“We will work hard to combine our passion for athletics, our experience and knowledge of hosting major athletics events and our warm hospitality and rich culture to organise a unique, memorable and highly successful World Championships.

“We will embrace this unique opportunity to introduce athletics to new audiences and new markets, inspire new athletes and capture the attention of new fans, ensuring that we maximise the full potential of our region’s first-ever World Championships. We cannot wait to connect the world of athletics in two years’ time.”

Vice-President of the Doha 2019 Organising Committee, Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, added: “It is an absolute honour for Doha to receive the IAAF flag from London 2017 and host the next IAAF World Championships in Athletics.

“We congratulate London for hosting a phenomenal World Championships and we thank all their teams for their support and guidance over the last two weeks in transferring their knowledge and expertise to our teams.

“We will rise to the occasion as we prepare to enter the next phase of our preparations to host the world’s third biggest sporting event.”

IAAF President Sebastian Coe added: “We look forward with excitement to our visit to Doha in two years, not simply because of their commitment to sport in their country but because it gives us the opportunity to take our Championships into a region in the world we have never been to before and that is also important.

“We need to continue to globalise our sport and it is the first visit to the Middle East for our World Championships. I know they will deliver a great event.”