Qatar Olympic Committee secretary-general HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Chef-de-Mission Khalil al-Jabir and other officials during the flag raising ceremony at the Asian Games Athletes Village yesterday. Pictures: Karim Jaffer
Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary-General HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani has urged athletes representing the country at the 17th Ásian Games here to do their best while at the same time not lose track of a larger cause - upholding the values of friendship and sportsmanship.
Speaking to journalists at a function held at the Athletes Village where Qatar’s flag was hoisted according to a long-standing Olympic tradition, HE Sheikh Saoud said the Asian Games were an occasion to showcase the best of sporting talent nations had while at the same time sending a powerful message that the continent’s strength lay in íts diverse traditions and cultures.
“A big sports event like the Asian Games and the Olympics ís òf course mostly about tough competition and about the desire to achieve glory for yourself and the country you represent, but athletes can also contribute in a large measure to a general feeling of goodwill and bonhomie between nations with their exemplary conduct and behaviour,” Sheikh Saoud said.
“There is no continent like Asia where you find people of so many different races, cultures and religions which all contribute to its richness. The Asian Games are a celebration of that richness,” he added
Sheikh Saoud, who makes it a point to attend all major events Qatar participates in and personally cheer the athletes at venues, stressed that every athlete had a role to play in improving the image of the country he represents.
“When you go to a different country as part of an official delegation, or even as a private person, it is incumbent upon you that you put your best foot forward and show to the world that you can contribute to the larger cause of global peace and humanity, in this case through sport,” he added.
He wished all competitors in the Qatar squad well, adding that they were not only capable of putting up a decent fight but could even cause a few shocks by winning more medals than the 16 they won at the last Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
“We have a number of track and field stars who have been winning regularly on the international circuit,” Sheikh Saoud said.
“Of course, Mutaz Essa Barshim is the most famous athlete we have at the moment because he is the World Indoor champion and also the number one in Asia in the high-jump. But there are also others in the squad who can pull off a surprise or two. You can never discount the surprise factor in sports because it can be unpredictable and sometimes even the best in the business can have an off day.”
While Barshim is a near certainty for gold – barring, of course, an unfortunate last-minute niggle or sudden loss of form, there are also others in the track and field squad from whom a medal can be expected.
Among them is the rather unsung Femi Ogunode who has shown tremendous form this year since coming out of a two-year ban for a doping violation.
Ogunode, a naturalized Qatari of Nigerian heritage, won the 200 and 400m double at Guangzhou four years ago and has worked up some cracking form lately.
He clocked two personal bests earlier this month, in the 100 (10.04secs) and 200m (20.17secs) while representing Asia-pacific against some quality opposition in the IAAF Continental Cup in Morocco, winning bronze in both races.
A few days earlier, he had clinched third spot in the 100m at the IAAF World Challenge in Reiti, Italy with a time of 10.05 seconds. The race involved illustrious sprinters such as Justin Gatlin, Asafa Powell, Nesta Carter and Christophe Lemaitre.
Musab Abdulrahman Bala, winner of the Asian Championships gold in the 800m last year in Pune and 2012 world junior champion in the 1500m Hamza Driouch could also find themselves on the podium.
‘Enjoy your stay’
Yesterday, during the flag hoisting ceremony, Qatar Chef-de-Mission Khalil al-Jabir and Athletes Village mayor Elisa Lee exchanged mementos as is the custom. Mayor Lee welcomed the Qatari delegation to the Athletes Village and hoped they would enjoy their near three-week stay there.
“We have tried our best to make you feel comfortable. Please feel at home,” she said.
Qatar’s ambassador to South Korea Mohamed Abdulla al-Dehaimi and about 20 sports officials also attended the flag-hoisting ceremony.
BELOW:
1) QOC secretary-general HE Sheikh Saoud talking to the media yesterday.
2) Qatar’s flag being raised at the Athletes Village yesterday.
