QOC
The two-day Arab-German (AGS) Sports Summit in concluded on Friday in Berlin, Germany with the participation of prominent political and sports figures in Germany, along with participants from several countries interested in sport, academia, and medicine.
The second and final day of the summit witnessed several seminars and discussion sessions, the main theme of which was the Qatari sport, its impact on the global level and the successes it achieved in terms of development, achievements and championships in Qatar, including the 2019 World Championships in Athletics, the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the 2023 World Swimming Championships. They also discussed the great role in sports medicine through the Aspetar hospital and Aspire Academy and its role in the preparation of athletes and other topics related to Qatar sport and achievements.
In the presence of HE President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, the first session witnessed a number of keynote speakers giving their speeches.
Secretary-General of Arab-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry Abdulaziz Al Mikhlafi praised the holding of the AGS summit, as well as the presence of HE Sheikh Joaan, which gives a lot of momentum and attention to this event, that will have many positive repercussions in the coming period.
In a speech at the first session, HE Ambassador of Qatar to Germany Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani pointed to the importance of the AGS summit, adding, "The Germans hosted the World Cup in 2006 meanwhile the Arab world represented by the State of Qatar will host the World Cup in 2022. We all know what sport can do to a society, it is a vehicle for activities and development."
"That's why today this event the 1st Arab German Sport summit has a great value. When you invest in Sport, you invest in the future of your country and the future of your generations," HE the Ambassador added.
The sport contributed to the consolidation of unity among peoples and was the reason to stop conflicts in the darkest circumstances where the people meet and put aside their differences to raise the value of sportsmanship, HE the Ambassador said.
He explained that the countries, that invest in sports, witness high levels of development in many areas where the sport is an engine for development through the physical legacy of infrastructure, which includes the establishment of stadiums and sports facilities, roads, airports, hotels, and cultural sites. He added that sports enhance human development in all its forms during the hosting of sporting events.
For his part, Ambassador of Lebanon to Germany Dr. Mustapha Adib, Dean of the Arab Diplomatic Corps in Germany, thanked HE President of QOC Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani for attending this summit, noting the importance of Qatar's role in sport and its role in society. He pointed out that the world is looking forward to a distinguished edition of the World Cup in 2022 Qatar.
HE QOC Secretary-General Jassim Al Buainain gave a special presentation on sports in Qatar during the session entitled "the Olympics and grand championships". He reviewed Qatar sport achievements and the great successes reached through the belief of the wise leadership in the value of sport and its positive impact on society.
HE Al Buainain noted Qatar's keenness to set international standards for the major sporting events it has organized since the great success of the 15th Asian Games in 2006, and the further successes in the major tournaments such as the 2011 Arab Games, the 2015 Handball World Cup and the 2018 World Gymnastics Championships, as well as many other sporting aspects such as the Schools Olympic Program, and other initiatives.
He noted that QOC celebrated its 40th anniversary several days ago in the framework of Qatar's keenness to become a supporter of the Olympic Movement.
Director of Planning and Operations of IAAF World Athletics Championships, DOHA 2019, Fahad Juma said that the participation in the first AGS summit was very fruitful, adding that such a platform is of great importance and contributes to conveying clear messages about the Qatari work in sports and the interest enjoyed by the sport at the community level.
Director General of the Anti-doping Lab Qatar Dr. Mohammed Al Maadheed said that sports medicine and its current status and future varies from country to another, depending on the proportion of practitioners of the sport. He added that according to international estimates, only one percent are professional athletes, 20 percent are amateur and 79 percent do not exercise, so Qatar is encouraging sports to increase the proportion and integrate those who do not exercise in sports.
Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Director of Health and Safety Abdullah Al Bushri explained Qatar's preparations for hosting the 2022 World Cup in a panel discussion entitled "football and the world cup 2022 in Qatar".
Al Bushri was keen to clarify the latest developments at the level of the FIFA World Cup stadiums and the stages of work in each stadium, as well as the methods of safety and health, shedding light on the wonderful design of each stadium and its impact on hosting the tournament.
Qatar will be the first country in the world to organize the World Cup and the distance between all the stadiums do exceed 55 km, and this will give players more rest and the fans will be able to watch more than one game per day, Al Bushri added.
Khalil Al Jaber, QOC's Director of the Sports Affairs Department, and President of the 2023 World Swimming Championships in Doha, participated in a seminar titled 'great sports events and employment opportunities'.
Al Jaber spoke about the ongoing preparations for the World Swimming Championships in Doha after 4 years. He explained that the preparations are being made for the global event that matches the value and reputation of Qatari sport.
Lulwa Al Marri, Chairperson of Qatar Womens Sports Committee, highlighted the reality of women's sports in Qatar and the level reached during the past years after starting from point zero, adding that in a few years, many successes have been achieved.
Al Marri's speech was impressive, especially since participants from Germany, in particular, did not have full knowledge of women's sport in Qatar.