‘National Day source of pride for everyone’

Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani has said that National Day celebration embodies many concepts and values as it is a commemoration of the Founder Sheikh Jassim bin Mohammed bin Thani who laid the foundations of the modern Qatar.
HE Sheikh Joaan said that National Day celebration is an occasion that shows the cohesion between the wise leadership and the people and residents, adding that everyone living in Qatar is proud of the National Day due to the development the country is witnessing in various fields.
“The slogan of this year’s National Day celebration, ‘Promise of Prosperity and Glory’, has many meanings, especially as this statement was made by His Highness the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani to serve as a reassuring message from the leadership to the people about the prosperous future that awaits Qatar and its citizens despite the current exceptional circumstances, which increased everyone’s commitment to the country and loyalty to the leadership,” he said.
The QOC president pointed out that the current year witnessed many Qatari sporting achievements in different foreign events, which was the result of the great support given to the sport sector by His Highness the Emir.
HE Sheikh Joaan said that there were many outstanding achievements in 2017 by Qatari athletes, most notably the Olympic champion Mutaz Barshim who was named International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) Male Athlete of the Year.
He added that World Athletics Championships held in London also witnessed the excellence of the runner Abdalelah Haroun who won the bronze medal in 400m.
The QOC president pointed out that the promising Qatari weightlifter Fares Ibrahim accomplished various achievements in 2017, most notably two gold and one silver medals at the Junior World Weightlifting Championships in Tokyo and two gold and one silver medals at the Asian Youth Weightlifting Championships in Nepal. Additionally, Fares won a 94kg silver at the World Weightlifting Championships in Anaheim, California in early December.
HE Sheikh Joaan said the number of events and tournaments hosted by Qatar this year, reached more than 80, which confirms the great position Qatar has reached as a capital for sports in the world.
He pointed out that QOC launched a new identity and strategy this year, which marks the beginning of a new phase in the history of sport and Olympic movement in Qatar, adding that the new identity and strategy seek to realise more achievements in the field of sport, which is one of the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.
He added that the current year saw QOC make a remarkable effort regarding the future phase as the Qatari athletes’ development pathway project “Be An Athlete” was announced to be complete. The project aims to prepare new generations of Qatari athletes in various sports through sport federations as a joint project between QOC and the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
HE Sheikh Joaan said the project aims to spread the culture of sport in all sectors of the society starting with youth and to practice sports until retirement. The beginning will be at schools to instill the spirit of sport in the future generation, reach a high level of awareness of sports, and discover talent in schools.
He also explained that Qatari athletes’ development pathway project has placed a special framework for skills and abilities of talented individuals and how to retain them and train, compete and achieve sports excellence during all stages of individual growth, which is divided into five different stages.
HE Sheikh Joaan concluded by stressing on the important role of QOC in following up the preparations and readiness of the different Qatari teams for participation in future competitions and qualifying for the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo. (QNA)