Doha: President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani will head Qatar’s Mission to the 2016 Olympic games in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, the QOC announced yesterday.
The Qatari Olympic contingent comprises 38 athletes representing 10 sports federations being the Athletics, Handball, Shooting, Equestrian, Boxing, Beach Volleyball, Swimming, Table Tennis, Judo and Wightlifting federations.
South America’s first-ever Olympic Games will see over 10,000 athletes from 206 countries compete in Rio de Janeiro.
A global TV audience of 4.8 billion will unite through a shared celebration of Olympism as they witness the very best of athleticism, drama and endeavor.
Amongs them will be the biggest team Qatar has ever sent to an Olympic Games since their debut in Los Angeles 1984.
The official delegation accompanying QOC President also includes QOC General Secretary Dr Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari and the Presidents of the participating sports federations. The administrative delegation of the Qatari Olympic mission, headed by Mohammed Issa Al Fadala, left Doha yesterday.
Commenting on building on Team Qatar’s sporting momentum, Al Fadala said: “By participating in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, the QOC hopes to show the true face of its talented athletes and the hard-working federations.
After winning two bronze medals thanks to Mutaz and Nasser at London 2012, the ambition now is to improve on all fronts; both in terms of an increase in the number of participating athletes and Team Qatar’s performance.”
The Rio 2016 Olympic Games will mark the eighth time Qatar has participated in the Games, with Qatar’s first appearance in the Games coming in 1984 in Los Angeles - only five short years since the establishment of the QOC in 1979.
Since then, Team Qatar has grown stronger in number and in performances, and made history at the London 2012 Olympic Games by sending their first female athletes ever who competed in swimming, table tennis, athletics and shooting.
London 2012 also saw Team Qatar’s sporting heroes Mutaz Barshim and Nasser Al Attiyah win bronze medals in high jump and skeet shooting respectively.
Since then, Barshim and Al Attiyah have continued to dominate the international sporting scene while inspiring local Qatari athletes to join them on their Olympic journey.
The Peninsula
