In 2019, Qatar hosted a spectacular edition of the World Athletics Championships, when the best athletes descended in Doha for the first global track and field spectacle held in the Arab region. Qatar’s unwavering commitment to excellence was evident in every aspect of the event which set a number of new benchmarks for hosting international sports competitions.
The Doha 2019 Worlds featured the first ‘midnight marathons’, allowing the athletes to cope with the unfamiliar heat during the daytime, while offering sport lovers a whole new perspective of hosting successful events regardless of the weather conditions.
The fully air-conditioned Khalifa International Stadium, a marvel of modern engineering, provided an awe-inspiring backdrop for the world’s most elite athletes to showcase their skills and passion. Doha also featured meticulously planned logistics, and warm Qatari hospitality seamlessly combined to create an unforgettable experience for athletes, spectators, and officials alike.
After Doha, the World Championships moved to Eugene, Oregon in the US, and now the Hungarian capital – Budapest has come under the spotlight in hosting the famed spectacle.
Qatar’s hopes at this year’s Worlds are pinned on the reigning world high jump champion Mutaz Essa Barshim, as the three-time world champion aims to make it four in a row after winning the prestigious title at the 2017 London, 2019 Doha and 2022 Eugene World Championships. The team also includes Bassem Hemeida (400m hurdles) and Moaaz Ibrahim (discus throw).
The reigning Olympic title-holder Barshim, one of the world’s most celebrated athletes, is once again a front runner in the race for the World title, having already posted the world’s leading mark this season, an impressive 2.36m at the Silesia Kamila Skolimowska Memorial Diamond League meet in Chorzow, Poland, last month. Barshim’s teammate, Hemeida will also try to make his presence felt at the Worlds, competing in the one lap hurdles event in the absence of compatriot Abderrahman Samba who missed most part of the season due to an injury. Hemeida is a former Asian Athletics Championships gold winner, and has a personal best of 48.64 secs which places him in the top 30 in the world this season.
The third member of the Qatar team, Ibrahim is a former U-20 World and Asian champion.
With all eyes set on the nine-day extravaganza in Budapest, the World will remember the spectacular Doha 2019 not only for the incredible athletic achievements but also for Qatar’s exceptional ability to host a world-class event that left an indelible mark on the world of sports.
