The presence of four women in the Qatari Olympics contingent of 12 athletes has created quite a flutter in the international media, but officials insist that it is part of a larger plan and not merely symbolism.
Bahya Mansoor
“The women in the Qatari squad will inspire future generation of Qatari girls taking up sport,” Qatar Olympic Committee Secretary-General HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani said at a recent press conference.
“They may not win any medals but they will be known as the first women from Qatar to have taken part in the Olympics, which in itself should inspire young girls to take up sport,” he added.
Nada Mohamed Wafa
In a move of added significance, female shooter Bahiya al-Hamad was announced as the flag-bearer of the Qatari contingent during the opening ceremony of the Games, a decision that underlines the importance local sports authorities are giving to women’s sports.
Ahlam al-Mane, the President of Qatar Women Sport Committee (QWSC), said: “The QWSC is making intensive effort to develop women’s sport and to support women’s participation in all regional and international competitions.”
Aya Majdi
Qatari women’s sport has made tremendous progress at the regional and international levels over the past years. The participation of Qatari female athletes extends to a variety of disciplines such as basketball, volleyball, handball, swimming, shooting, football, gymnastics, golf, equestrianism, fencing, sailing, athletics and tennis.
Noor al-Malki
At the Arab Games in 2011, Qatari female athletes earned 32 medals for the country including eight gold. Also in the first Youth Olympics held in Singapore in August 14-26, 2010, the Qatar delegation included six athletes, of which two were women, gymnast Shaden Mamdouh Wahdan and Bahiya al-Hamad.
The country’s official delegation to London 2012 Olympics includes HE Sheikh Saud bin Ali al-Thani , the Vice-President of Qatar Olympic Committee, HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, the QOC Secretary General, Khaleel Ibrahim al-Jaber, the Director of Sport Affairs Department, Hassan Abdullah al- Mohammadi, the Head of Media section, alongside administrators, technicians and journalists.
Hamza Driouch
The QOC completed all arrangements and preparations to attend this global sport gathering long ago. The QOC’s athletes had successfully competed in different qualifying tournaments that helped them book places in the London 2012 Olympic Games.
Nasser Saledh al-Attiyah
QOC Secretary General, HE Sheikh Saoud confirmed that Qatar’s leaders are sparing no efforts in supporting national athletes excel at international events and put Qatar on the world sporting map.
HE Sheikh Saoud appreciated Qatar’s participation in the London 2012 Olympic Games and promised that the national sport movement will see a bright future at both regional and international levels.
QOC is adopting a well-constructed policy to prepare national athletes for all local, regional and international sport events. The Olympics programme is considered an integral part of this policy. The policy includes a series of stages including psychological and physical preparation, training sessions, the selection of coaches and to ensure an ideal training environment.
The QOC Secretary General added that the Qatar’s participation in 2012 Olympic Games is not limited in the Games , but it’s a significant opportunity to bring people together and to exchange cultures with different world nations.
It is worth mentioning that Qatar first participated in the Olympics at Montreal 1976.
In Barcelona in 1992, Qatar’s Mohamed Suleiman won a bronze medal in the 1,500m to become Qatar’s first Olympic medallist. At the 2000 Games in Sydney, Qatar’s weightlifter, Asaad Saif Said won the bronze medal in the 105 kg event.
The athletes representing Qatar at the Ollympics are:
Nasser al-Attiyah:
Al-Attiyah is perhaps Qatar’s most famous athlete, with several records in shooting and motor sports to his credit. Not many athletes enjoy international success in more than one discipline as al-Attiyah does. On top of his achievements as a rally driver, the Qatari has represented his country at three Olympic Games in Skeet Shooting – with a best finish of fourth at Athens, Greece in 2004. He won consecutive Qatar National Rally Championships from 1990-95 and followed up that success with FIA Middle East Rally Championship titles in 2003, 2005, 2006 and 2007, plus a FIA P-WRC crown in 2006, before winning the famous Dakar Rally in 2011.
Rashid al-Athba:
Al-Athba is a prominent Qatari athlete in the Trap and Double Trap shooting disciplines. He comfortably booked his place in London 2012 Summer Olympic Games by finishing third overall in the men’s Trap event of the 12th Asian Shooting Championships held in January 2012 in Doha, Qatar.
Bahiya al-Hamad:
Bahiya Mansour Al-Hamad is a 19-year-old college student and air-rifle shooter. Al-Hamad was named by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) as Best Female Athlete of the Year 2011-2012 . She qualified for the 1st Youth Olympics Games - 2010 Singapore, where she was the flag-bearer at the Opening Ceremony. She will also be the flag-bearer in London 2012.
Noor al-Malki
Noor Hussain al Malki, a 17-year-old Qatari sprinter, is an excellent young female athlete in sprint disciplines (100 – 200 m). She is ambitious and is working hard at raising the level of her performance. She is looking forward to competing on the synthetic track at the London Olympic Stadium.
Hamza Driouch:
The Qatar’s mid-distance runner, Hamza Driouch is a promising athlete with a good record in athletics competitions. He proved his talent through a series of good results. He won a silver medal in the inaugural Youth Olympic Games 2010 in Singapore and a few days ago took gold in the 1,500m at the IAAF World Junior Championships in Barcelona.
Mohamed al-Qarni
Al-Qarni is a talented young runner in the Asian continent. Many experts predict a bright international future for Al-Qarni. He won a bronze medal in the IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships 2010 in Canada. The athlete set his personal best at the IAAF Diamond League 2012 ( 3.34.61).
Mohamed Bakheet:
Mohamed Abdu Bakheet is known as ‘the human train’ due to his strength and fighting spirit in the Marathon races. Bakheet has booked a place in the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games after clocking 2.12.14 m. He also won a gold medal in the Asian Athletics Championships 2011.
Mutaz Essa Barshim:
Mutaz is an outstanding young Qatari athlete specialising in the high jump. He is the national record holder with a best mark of 2.37 meters. He was the Asian Indoor and World Junior champion in 2010. He won the high jump gold medals at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships and the 2011 Military World Games.
Trained at the Aspire Academy for Sport Excellence, Barshim enjoyed his first international successes in 2010. He set an indoor Qatari record in Gothenburg in early February with a jump of 2.25 m, and then went on to take the gold medal at the 2010 Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, with a clearance of 2.20 m. He was selected to represent Qatar at the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships in Doha. These feats made of him the first graduate of the Aspire Academy to compete at the world championship-level and hold the national record in an Olympic sport.
Musaab Abdurrahman Bala:
Musaab is a talented young Qatari athlete and gold medal holder in the Arab Games, 2011 Doha. Despite his young age, Abdurrahman shows a remarkable fighting spirit on the racetrack.
Nada Mohamed Wafa:
The 17-year-old Qatari swimmer is due to compete in the women’s 50m freestyle at the upcoming London Summer Olympic Games. Earlier, Nada was a basketball player before taking on swimming. She had a good performance in the swimming competition during the Arab Games 2011 held in Doha. Nada is part of a sporting family. She is the daughter of the former Qatar national football team goalkeeper and Al-Sadd SC player Mohamed Wafa Arkaji.
Ahmed Ghaith Atari:
Ahmed Ghaith al-Atari is a promising young Qatari swimmer who took part in several sport events at regional and Asian levels. He is skillful and is working hard to improve his performance. He had good results in many championships at Arab, Gulf and Asian levels.
Ayah Majdi:
The Young Qatari Table Tennis player, possesses a number of gold medals at both Arab and Gulf levels. She is a very talented player who received the Ideal Player Shield Award in the first Arab Table Tennis Championships last February in Sharjah, UAE.