LEFT: Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), is seen with AIPS President Gianni Merlo, at the AIPS Executive Committee meeting in Doha yesterday. AIPS Treasurer Michael Kuhn is at left.
DOHA: Qatar is aiming to host at least 50 top international sports events every year, Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), said yesterday.
Hosts of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar in April unveiled a calendar of 40 events to be held in the 2013-14 season
“All the sporting events happening in Qatar now and in future showcase our passion and commitment for sport,” Sheikh Saoud said during his opening remarks at the AIPS Executive Committee meeting yesterday.
“This year we will organise 40 top international sports events. By 2030 we want to have an international event in every of the 52 weeks we hold an event,” Sheikh Saoud added as the AIPS family attended the session.
The AIPS Executive Committee opened its first board meeting since the Associations elections held last April.
The meeting was officially opened by Sheikh Saoud at Sheraton Hotel, which hosted the 69th AIPS congress in 2006.
The AIPS top brass will hold a two-day marathon meetings to inform the Associations activities of the past year and also plan ahead for the coming sporting season, the bulk of which will be held in the Arabian region.
“Our continuous relationship with AIPS is something important to us,” said Sheikh Saoud.
“Since the last congress (AIPS) in 2006, AIPS has accomplished so much and we will continue with our partnership with AIPS through the Qatar Sports Press Committee like the translation of the AIPS Africa website and the magazine. We are hosting about 40 international events this year and this partnership is important for us,” Sheikh Saoud added.
AIPS President Gianni Merlo acknowledged the significant role Qatar has played in the promotion of sports and the important role the Qatar Sports Press Committee has played in sports journalism within the Gulf.
“We are happy to return to Doha and hear how much Qatar is investing in developing a sports culture in this country. We have the Under-17 football World Cup going on across the border in Dubai and an exciting ‘Young Reporters’ programme which I hope one day we can be able to organise during one of the many events you plan to host in future,” said Merlo.
The 2022 FIFA World Cup host is well on its way to achieving its ambitious plan to organise 50 international sporting events annually, Sheikh Saoud said.
Sheikh Saoud also expounded on the Qatar sports master plan that includes the construction of an education city, a new Games Centre, Water Park, Doha Olympic Park to the already existing Aspire Academy, a strategy that revealed the country’s Olympic dream after two failed bids (2016 and 2020).
“Sport is a catalyst for our country’s development and financial investment. We managed to get the master plan devolved for the year 2022 and beyond. Whatever venue we require for the World Cup and even the Olympics, we shall have a lasting legacy for each venue,” he continued.
“After the 2022 World Cup, our commitment will be higher and we remain committed to hosting the Olympic Games. It remains part of our plans. We don’t know if it will be 2024 or 2028.”
During the Executive Committee the board will meet the organisers of some of the international events that will be hosted in Doha, a report on www.aips.com said.
The board members had a chance to watch the FINA World Cup swimming on Monday and will also attend the ongoing Gulf Countries Council conference on Sport and Environment.
THE PENINSULA
