The Peninsula
Doha, Qatar - The President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), Sebastian Coe has praised the great work done by the Organising Committee for the World Championships in Athletics to be held in Doha this year under the chairmanship of the President of Qatar Olympic Committee, H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, and Vice-Chairman of the Committee Dahlan Jumaan Al Hamad, at the end of the two-day meetings of the IAAF Board of Directors held in Doha.
Coe said that Doha will organise a special edition of the World Championships in Athletics from September 27 to October 6, 2019, adding that he is confident in Qatar’s ability to develop the tournament through this tournament and provide a world-famous edition.
The IAAF President expressed his great appreciation to the State of Qatar and its great efforts to develop and support Athletics, and praised the great work he witnessed in Doha as part of its readiness to host the World Championships in Athletics Doha 2019.
The IAAF also discussed some issues on the Russian file concerning lifting the suspension of Russian athletes. The IAAF President said that in the past four years they have focused on the process of change and now they focus more on development for a better future for athletics.
The Chairman of the IAAF’s Russia Taskforce Rune Andersen, said there was nothing new about the issue of Russian Athletes.
Yesterday, after the meeting of its Board of Directors, IAAF revealed details related to the development of the rounds of Diamond League in order to further spread the game and continue to be present at frequent intervals through competing for fewer races and competitions.
Al Hamad, who is also the IAAF Vice-Chairman and President of the Asian Athletics Association, expressed his satisfaction with the fruitful results achieved by the Board of Directors in Doha, especially that the decisions taken will serve the development of Athletics.
Al Hamad said that the decision to adopt the new global classification will be in the interest of each athlete because the challenge will be greater, contributing to the high level and achieving new records, considering that reducing IAAF Diamond League tournaments will not have negative aspects, but that the expectations are very positive.
On the visit of the IAAF to the Khalifa International Stadium where the 2019 World Championships and the Diamond League will take place, Al Hamad said that things are positive and the IAAF recognizes that the Organizing Committee is in constant coordination with IAAF and all things are going as planned in advance.