QOC sign official declaration with IWG

By Sports Reporter/Doha

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, Secretary General Of Qatar Olympic Committee, met with the International Working Group on Woman and Sport (IWG) yesterday to sign a special declaration yesterday.

In a prestigious ceremony at the Hilton Hotel in Doha, Sheikh Saoud endorsed the IWG’s Brighton Declaration – an agreement put in place which challenges governments, public authorities, businesses and any other relevant organization to promote, develop and support women’s sport.

Already 335 world renowned sporting organisations all over the globe have endorsed the Brighton Declaration.

The IWG convened in Doha for their annual meeting ahead of next year’s world conference on Women and Sport in Helsinki.

HE Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani spoke of his pride at meeting with the IWG, particularly after seeing first-hand the work carried out by Ahlam Salem Mubarak al-Mana, President of the Qatar Women’s Sport Committee.

He said: “We are delighted to be here today signing a very important declaration for women’s sport.

“Since the late 90s and early 2000s we have tried to work hard improving women’s sport and the number if who play it. I think we have have worked hard to officially establish the committee in charge of all the women’s sport in Qatar.

“Qatar has been involved in a lot of events I the last few years regarding women starting with the Asian games in 2002, the Asian Games in Qatar in 2006, in China in 2010 and then of course, the London Olympics  and takin

“The support we have received from all the member of the Qatar under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani has been incredible.

“Also, special praise must go to Ahlam Salem Mubarak al-Mana for the work she has carried out.  All her members in the sports community have done a great job to develop sport which is the most important thing for us.

“We will be more than happy to welcome them back in 2018 for the General Assembly. We will do everything and give our full support to make sure this event becomes a reality.”

After the special declaration was signed in front of the IWG members, Raija Mattila, co-chair of the IWG, extended a warm invitation for Qatar to join them at next year’s world conference in Helsinki.

She said: “I would like to voice our appreciation to the Qatar Olympic Committee and its women’s sports committee for making today possible.

“They have graciously agreed to bring the IWG to the Arabian Peninsula for the first time in our history.

“Today sees some of the most dedicated people in women’s sport in the world come under one road.

“We have cause to celebrate the endorsement of the Brighton Declaration from the Women’s Sport Committee, on behalf of the Qatar Olympic Committee.

“With this symbolic action Qatar has affirmed the commitment to the important role that sport and physical activity play in women and men, girls and boys, and that Qatar will be one of the nations to achieve excellence in sport.”