The Peninsula
The Vice-Chairman of the Longines Hathab Series Organising Committee, Omar Al Mannai, yesterday said that their prime focus is on the safety of riders and those who are involved as they look to complete the season.
"Normally our season ends in April but since we had an enforced break due to the COVID-19 situation for over four months, we’ve been working very hard to find safe solutions to complete the season without any harm or risks to our riders and the people who are working around the event," Al Mannai said.
Al Mannai, a key figure behind the success of the popular series, also said that the completion of the season shows the organising committee's commitment towards everyone involved.
"This is a continuation of our commitment to the riders, horse owners, sponsors that the season is completed also in keeping with Qatar Equestrian Federation’s (QEF) collaboration with the Qatar Olympic Committee and as per the protocols and measures set by the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH)."
Al Mannai said that there are no plans yet to bring in the spectators.
"We don’t have a plan as yet to have audiences to be able to watch the events as we are really focused on the riders and the horses to be safe and to finish the season in the best way possible. The final round of Longines Qatar Equestrian Tour Hathab 2019-20 is in two weeks’ time," Al Mannai said.
He also said that the new season will begin in October.
"We shall have the new season later in October and maybe by then the opening of phase 4 (by the MOPH and the government) will see the return of fans at equestrian venues as well.
"The QEF Indoor Arena is comparatively smaller and has a limited space for the audience so it helps to control implement social distancing in comparison to Al Shaqab which is large venue. This venue was the best solution for us for the resumption of the Hathab series," Al Mannai said.
"Also majority of the horses are from the QEF and they are all used to this arena," he added.
"The continuation of the Longines Hathab series helps us achieve our objective of increasing awareness and participation of the horse loving community," Al Mannai said.