HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
The Organising Committee for Qatar 2015 HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani has said that Qatar is ready to host any sporting event.
Addressing a press conference at the close of the 24th Handball World Championship yesterday, Sheikh Joaan said, “Qatar is ready to host Olympics or any other sporting event.”
Sheikh Joaan said Qatar Handball Association (QHA) has a clear strategy aimed at improving handball and to continue achieving successes that have occurred during the current championship in which it reached the finals to compete for the title.
“Qatari team’s great achievement in this championship is not only for the State of Qatar but for the Arab world at large,” he said.
Meanwhile, International Handball Federation (IHF) president said that there are no immediate plans to change the nationality rule for players.
IHF chief Dr. Hassan Moustafa said the power to bring amendments and changes in rules vests with the IHF Congress. IHF permits players to play for any other country even if they have represented their national team earlier.
“Till now, no association has sought a change in rules regarding the nationality of players. If any association plans to bring about any amendments to the prevailing rules, then they will have to go through the Congress, which will be put to vote,” said Moustafa.
“The IHF Executive Council has nothing to do with this issue. It belongs to the rules and regulations of the IHF and it is decided by the IHF Congress.During the last IHF Congress, there was no motion by any member federation on this particular matter. I want to make it clear to all,” he said.
While defending Qatar’s decision to include European-born players in the team he said: “The system doesn’t belong to Qatar only. Qatar used the facility that has been provided by the Congress. It is all for 200 IHF members. Anyone can use this and become strong.”
In the World Championship, Poland also played a player who had earlier played for Germany. Qatar has used four players from Europe and they became the first non-European team to enter the final.
Dr Moustafa also clarified that Qatar has filed only four European-born players in the championship.
“As per the information provided to me Qatar has only four players who have born in Europe and grew up there, while rest of the players were born in Qatar or their parents are working in Qatar. They are based in Qatar,” he said.
He then added: “We need Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the UAE and other countries in this region. We need to help them in the development of our sport and they are very important countries for us.”
Qatar 2015 Organizing Committee director general Dr Thani Abdulrahman al-Kuwari thanked the IHF and all those who contributed to the success of the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship, stressing that the success was due to joint efforts of all parties who worked together as one team in order to ensure successful championship.
“The proceeds of the tournament would be directed to charities involved in education, pointing out the proceeds of ticket sales, amounting to about QR 9 million, will be given to the ‘Educate a Child’ initiative,” he said.
