BY RIZWAN REHMAT
DOHA: Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) President Dahlan Al Hamad yesterday announced his intention to run for the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) and Asian Athletics Association (AAA) elections later this year and said both campaigns would centre around youth development.
Al Hamad said he is keen to retain his positions as IAAF Vice-President and AAA President at a time when Qatar has played a stellar role in ‘bridging the gap between the two bodies’.
In July 2013, Al Hamad stunned India’s Suresh Kalmadi to become AAA President. Al Hamad, a hugely popular figure in IAAF circles, won by two votes to end Kalmadi’s bid for a fourth term.
“The youth is the future of the world. Youth is what we are going to inherit to keep the sport alive,” Al Hamad said.
“If we don’t invest in youth in a good or proper manner we lose our way. To us, yes, youth is very important. We have to educate youngsters. We are living in a time when there is the menace of doping. The awareness is important and we need to concentrate on this,” he said.
“We don’t see that everyone is aware on doping. People sometimes like the achievement but achievement through cheating is no achievement.
“We have to help young athletes stay away from such nuisance in their life. So the grassroots of athletics is also important, educating the youth and spreading awareness on this are the main objectives of my campaign,” Al Hamad said.
Al Hamad has been a Council Member of IAAF since 2003 and Vice President since 2007.
“When we look back, when I was competing against Kalmadi, I wanted to unite Asia. I have been able to do that but I haven’t had enough time to enforce all of my development plans,” Al Hamad.
“To advance our athletics cause, we managed to make more coordination at the Asian level. There were a lot of problems in Asia. I have managed to make a good bridge between Asia and IAAF.
As you know we are under the umbrella of IAAF. We need to show IAAF our seriousness to cooperate. I managed to do that. Not just the IAAF, also OCA - a body that is responsible for Asian Games and Winter Games.
“This kind of linkage is very important and very strong. I would like to thank IAAF President Lamine Diack and I want to thank OCA chief for his support,” he said.
Al Hamad said Qatar - the hosts of the 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships - is at the centre of excellence when it comes to hosting top events. “From an unknown quantity at international level, Qatar has evolved in the last 20 years into a key, powerful and trusted IAAF partner,” Al Hamad said.
“Throughout these years I have served the Qatari, Asian and International athletics governing bodies from various leading positions.
“My personal dream to establish my county into the world’s athletics decision makers has become a reality, but my aspirations for the future of world athletics do not end here.
“I am determined to do whatever is required to keeping up the development of the sport from its grassroots not only in Qatar, but in the wider Asian continent,” said Dahlan who thanked H H The Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, for his continuous support.
“I believe that it is time for Asia to be at the centre stage and this task can be achieved by creating and delivering a new athletics concept.
“No matter who the next IAAF President is, we have to start changing world athletics and by this I mean we have to start focusing on youths, inspire and engage them.
“If I will be re-elected at the IAAF Vice-President position I will concentrate all my forces and energy in that direction,”, added Dahlan.
The QAF President declared a war on doping.
“If we all concentrate and unite forces on this war, and I mean IAAF, AAA and all other athletics organisations, by 2019 we could showcase to the world a fairer, cleaner and more attractive sport, like it has never been before,” he said.
Al Hamad said he is convinced the development of athletics at grassroots level remained key to the popularity of the sport
“We need to work at the grassroots programmes, to educate and engage youngsters on the sportsmanlike principles, to teach them the virtues of fair play and to fight against doping,” Al Hamad said.
The Peninsula
