Prime Minister and Interior Minister, H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani and President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, pose for a photograph with officials and awardees during a ceremony held at Kemp
Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) yesterday celebrated its 40th Anniversary in a ceremony held at Kempinski Doha Hotel.
In a speech during the ceremony, President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani welcomed the guests, pointing that the founding of QOC has contributed to drawing the sports development in Qatar, thanks to the efforts made by Father Amir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, who announced the founding of QOC on March 14, 1979.
“Since that day, sports in Qatar have been steadily advancing under the leadership of the its presidents who lead the Qatari sports movement and undertook the continuation of its march with confidence, competence and efficiency that have had a great impact on the development of the Olympic movement, followed by an important milestone when Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Assumed the Presidency of Qatar Olympic Committee in December 2000, which marked a turning point in the history of Qatari sport,” Sheikh Joaan said.
“Doha has become beacon of pride, thanks to the guidance and directives of HH the Amir, who has established Qatar’s status globally, and made sport one of the important factors in the pillars of sustainable development of the country,” the QOC President added, praising the efforts of the champions, who exerted their efforts over the past decades, and achieved the best continental and international achievements that put Qatar in its current leading sport position.
“Over 40 years, the Qatar Olympic Committee has made accomplishments in various fields and at all levels. QOC has made a quantum leap in sports work and has had an active presence in continental and international forums and in various sports events and competitions in which Qatari athletes participated and won several titles and medals,” Sheikh Joaan said.
He also noted that with the outstanding presence of the State of Qatar, the great development of its sports infrastructure, and the world-class sports facilities, Doha has deserved to be named the capital of sport, as it organised major international tournaments that strengthened the sporting status of the State of Qatar. In addition, QOC has received numerous accolades and awards in various sectors and has instilled a number of concepts through slogans such as Sports for Life, he added.
Sheikh Joaan concluded his speech affirming QOC’s keenness and commitment to achieving the objectives of promoting and developing the Olympic Movement in Qatar and developing it in accordance with the Olympic Charter in addition to advancing with its strategy in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030.
During the event, Sheikh Joaan presented an award to H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, the first QOC President.
Former QOC President H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Fahad Al Thani as well as a number of senior athletes and former QOC Secretary-Generals were also honoured. These included Mohammed bin Humam Al Abdulla, Yousef Ahmed Al Sa’ai, Rashed bin Haseen Al Nuaimi, Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, Sheikh Saoud bin Ali Al Thani, Dr. Thani bin Abdulrahman Al Kuwari and Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani. The awardees also included the first Qatari Olympic medallist Mohammed Sulaiman, Paralympics Rio 2016 winner Abdulraham Abdulqadir and Paralympics Rio 2016 winner Sarah Masoud.
QOC Secretary-General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain expressed delight for meeting the awardees on the occasion. He said that during its journey, QOC has witnessed many proud sporting achievements, due to the outstanding role it has played since its inception in promoting the Olympic Movement and in all kinds of sports, and hosting many of events and major sports tournaments that made Qatar the capital of sport.
Al Buenain then expressed thanks and appreciation to all former QOC staff since its inception in 1979 to this day.
QOC strategy, which was launched in 2017 and extends until 2022, comes from national priorities which aims to achieve three main outcomes: increasing sports in the community, reviving Olympic values and ensuring sports excellence locally and internationally, he added.
Al Buenain said QOC reaffirms its commitment to complete its path and looks forward to excellence under the guidance of the QOC President. Since the past 40 years have been very impressive, QOC is confident that the next phase will witness further achievements and Qatar sports will remain a leading forum in various platforms in support of Qatar National Vision 2030.
The anniversary celebrations also included a discussion panel with the participation of Sheikh Joaan, Sheikh Saoud, Dr. Al Kuwari and Al Buenain and IAAF Vice-President Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad.
