Aspire officials and other dignitaries during the press conference.
Some of the world’s leading long distance runners will descend on Doha later this year to compete in the prestigious IAU (International Association of Ultrarunners) 50 Kilometres World Trophy Final, which will be hosted by Aspire Logistics. The announcement came ahead of Qatar’s first official ultramarathon, the International 6:50 Race, due to take place tonight at Aspire Zone.
The IAU 50km World Trophy comprises a series of races held around the world, culminating in a grand finale. Current series event host nations include Ireland, Germany, Norway, Australia, Spain and the United States.
Announcing the event at a press conference in Doha yesterday, Nadeem Khan, IAU’s Director of Communications, said, “It is an absolute privilege and honour to be bringing the first IAU event to the Middle East, and to Aspire Zone. Tonight’s 50km long-distance run will serve as a test event for the World Trophy in 2014, and will only be a small example of what you will see later on this year.”
Philip Templar, Director of Venues & Events at Aspire Logistics, said, “We are expecting over 20 elite athletes to take part in the race in October. This event is a fantastic opportunity for Doha, as it puts Qatar on the map for ultramarathon and long-distance running. It also demonstrates the diverse range of sporting activities that Aspire Zone can offer the local community.”
Abdullah al-Khater, Head of Sports and Events at Aspire Logistics, said, “The aim of the ultramarathon is to promote healthy lifestyles among Qatari residents. Over 150 people are taking part in tonight’s event. This is the first time an ultramarathon is being held in Qatar, so this is a very encouraging figure.”
