(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani said that National Day celebration embodies many concepts and values as it is a commemoration of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani who laid the foundations of the modern State of Qatar.
Sheikh Joaan said that National Day celebration is an occasion that shows the cohesion between the wise leadership and the people and residents of Qatar, adding that everyone living on this land is proud of the National Day due to the development the country is witnessing in various fields.
He also added that the slogan of this year's National Day celebration, 'Promise of Prosperity and Glory, has many meanings, especially as this statement was made by the Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani to serve as a reassuring message from the leadership to the people about the prosperous future that awaits Qatar and its citizens despite the current exceptional circumstances, which increased everyone's commitment to the country and loyalty to the leadership.
The QOC President pointed out that the current year witnessed many Qatari sporting achievements in different foreign events, which was the result of the great support given to the sport sector by H H the Emir.
Sheikh Joaan said that Qatar participated in the Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, which were held in Turkmenistan's capital of Ashgabat, and managed to land 11 different medals; four gold, four silver and three bronze. Additionally, Qatar participated in the Islamic Solidarity Games in Azerbaijan's capital of Baku and won 12 different medals; two gold, three silver and seven bronze medals.
'Other outstanding accomplishments were the achievements of the special needs team who won two gold, two silver and one bronze medals at the Special Olympics World Winter Games 2017 in Ramsau, Austria.
Furthermore, the special needs team won a gold and a silver medal at the World Para Athletics Championships in London, Sheikh Joaan added.
Sheikh Joaan also noted that the beach volleyball team won four out of five Asian championships in 2017: Bara Master in Satun in Thailand, Qatar Masters in Doha, Grand Osaka in Japan and South Sumatra in Indonesia.
He also said that the team won the 26th edition of the Arab championship in Oman, pointing out that the beach handball team won the sixth Asian championship in Thailand, qualified for the 2018 World Championship in Russia and achieved the bronze medal at the 10th World Games in Wroclaw, Poland.
He also highlighted the achievements by Qatari athletes, most notably the Olympic silver medallist Mutaz Essa Barshim who emerged high jump world champion at the London 2017 Games. He also was the champion of the 2017 Diamond League after winning the first place in the five rounds (Doha, Shanghai, Oslo, Birmingham and Zurich).
Additionally, Sheikh Joaan noted that Barshim won the 2017 Best Athlete of Asia Award, presented by the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), pointing out that all these achievements resulted in Barshim being named International Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) male athlete of the year.
Sheikh Joaan added that World Athletics Championships held in London also witnessed the excellence of the runner Abdalelah Haroun who won the bronze medal in 400 meters.
The QOC President also pointed out that the promising Qatari weightlifter Fares Ibrahim accomplished various achievements in 2017, most notably two gold and one silver medals at the Junior World Championships in Tokyo and two gold and one silver medals at the Asian Youth Championships in Nepal. Additionally, Fares won a 94 kg silver at the World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, California in early December.
In his interview with QNA, Sheikh Joaan spoke about the events and tournaments hosted by the State of Qatar this year, which reached more than 80 local, continental and international competitions in different games, which confirms the great position Qatar has reached as a capital for sports in the world.
Sheikh Joaan pointed out that QOC launched a new identity and strategy this year, which marks the beginning of a new phase in the history of sport and Olympic movement in Qatar, adding that the new identity and strategy seek to realise more achievements in the field of sport, which is one of the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.
He added that the current year saw QOC make a remarkable effort regarding the future phase as the Qatari athletes' development pathway project 'Be An Athlete was announced to be complete. The project aims to prepare new generations of Qatari athletes in various sports through sport federations as a joint project between QOC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
Sheikh Joaan said the project aims to spread the culture of sport in all sectors of the society starting with youth and to practice sports until retirement. The beginning will be at schools to instill the spirit of sport in the future generation, reach a high level of awareness of sports, and discover talent in schools.
He also explained that Qatari athletes' development pathway project has placed a special framework for skills and abilities of talented individuals and how to retain them and train, compete and achieve sports excellence during all stages of individual growth, which is divided into five different stages.
Sheikh Joaan bconcluded by stressing on the important role of QOC in following up the preparations and readiness of the different Qatari teams for participation in future competitions and qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.
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