DOHA: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) yesterday endorsed the ‘Brighton Declaration’, saying Qatar was fast developing a healthy environment to support women’s participation in sports.
Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary General of QOC, joined hands with the International Working Group on Woman and Sport (IWG) to put pen to paper on the IWG’s ‘Brighton Declaration’ – an agreement which challenges governments, public authorities, businesses and other relevant organisations to promote, develop and support women’s sport.
In a ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Doha, Sheikh Saoud endorsed the IWG’s ‘Brighton Declaration’ before committing to greater support for young girls keen to take up sports as a profession.
Already 335 world renowned sporting organisations all over the globe have endorsed the ‘Brighton Declaration’.
The IWG convened in Doha for their annual meeting ahead of next year’s world conference on Women and Sport in Helsinki.
Sheikh Saoud spoke of his pride at meeting with the IWG, particularly after seeing first-hand the work carried out by Ms Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al Mana, Chairperson of the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee (QWSC).
“We are delighted to be here today signing a very important declaration for women’s sport,” Sheikh Saoud said.
“Since the late 90s and early 2000s we have tried to work hard improving women’s sport and the number of who play it. I think we have worked hard to officially establish the committee in charge of all the women’s sport in Qatar,” he added.
“Qatar has been involved in a lot of events in the last few years regarding women starting with the Busan Asian Games in 2002, the Asian Games in Doha in 2006, Guangzhou Asian Games in 2010 and then the London Olympics Games last year.
“The support we have received from Qatari leadership under the directives of the Heir Apparent, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has been incredible.
“Also, special praise must go to Ms Ahlam Salem Mubarak Al Mana for the work she has carried out in recent times.
“All her members in the sports community have done a great job to develop sport which is the most important thing for us.
“We will be more than happy to welcome them back in 2018 for the General Assembly,” Sheikh Saoud said. “We will do everything and give our full support to make sure this event becomes a reality.”
After the special declaration was signed in front of the IWG members, Raija Mattila, co-chair of the IWG, extended a warm invitation for Qatar to join them at next year’s world conference in Helsinki.
“I would like to voice our appreciation to the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee for making today possible,” Al Mana said. “They have graciously agreed to bring the IWG to the Arabian Peninsula for the first time in our history.
“Today sees some of the most dedicated people in women’s sport in the world come under one roof here in Doha.
“We have cause to celebrate the endorsement of the ‘Brighton Declaration’ from the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee on behalf of the Qatar Olympic Committee.
“With this symbolic action Qatar has affirmed the commitment to the important role that sport and physical activity play in women and men, girls and boys, and that Qatar will be one of the nations to achieve excellence in sports,” she added.
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