QOC confident of future following Qatar athletes’ strongest showing at Rio

As the Rio 2016 Olympic Games come to a close, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has reflected on the strongest performance by a Qatari team at an Olympic Games to date. With more top-10 finishes than ever before, Qatar’s first-ever Olympic silver medal and an incredibly young team, the QOC has much to build on for the future.
Speaking from Rio de Janeiro, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Dr Thani Abdulrahman al-Kuwari, said: “We are incredibly proud of our performance at Rio 2016, which shows the progress that Qatar is making on the sporting field on a global level. Team Qatar was the biggest athlete delegation that we have sent to an Olympic Games with more sports represented than ever before and the most number ever of top 10 finishes.
“Simply making it to an Olympic Games is an achievement in itself and each member of Team Qatar has raised the profile of their sport and spread the Olympic spirit to new audiences and new fans watching back at home. We know that they will have inspired a new generation of sporting heroes to follow in their footsteps. Most importantly, we have an incredibly young team with many just at the start of their sporting careers. This reflects the potential that Qatar has on the global sporting stage in the future and we look forward to bright and positive years to come.”
Team Qatar consisted of 36 athletes competing across ten sports, with 90% of the team making their Olympic debut. About 50% of the team were aged 25 or under with 16-year-old Dalal al-Ajmi and 17-year-old Noah al-Khulaifi the youngest members of the team. Qatar had athletes competing in handball, beach volleyball, weightlifting, judo and equestrian for the first time ever, whilst Nasser al-Attiyah competed in his sixth consecutive Olympic Games.
Qatar’s top 10 finishes came in four different sports. Fares Elbakh came eighth in the men’s 85kg weightlifting at just 18 years old and Ashraf Elseify came sixth in the hammer throw at just 21 years old. To put that into perspective the hammer throw was won by a 34-year-old and silver was taken by a 40-year-old.
Qatar’s handball team made it to the quarter-finals and in the Equestrian, three members of the team—Sheikh Ali al-Thani, Bassem Mohamed and Ali al-Rumaihi — qualified for the final on their Olympic debut. Sheikh Ali al-Thani made it through to a jump-off after clearing two rounds with zero penalties and eventually finished in sixth place.
Speaking after his competition, Sheikh Ali said: “No one expected us to reach the finals in our very first Olympic competition but I knew we were capable of it. I am proud to have represented Qatar to the best of my abilities and although we only just finished competing we already have our sights set on Tokyo 2020.”
Team Qatar’s highlight of the Olympics came from Mutaz Barshim who claimed Qatar’s best ever Olympic result with silver in the men’s high jump with a clearance of 2.36m. Barshim also becomes Qatar’s most successful ever Olympian with one bronze medal, claimed at London 2012, and one silver medal.
Following his achievement, a celebration ceremony was held at Bayt Qatar and saw Brazilian and Qatari crowds come together to wave Qatari flags and share in the celebration in the true spirit of Olympism.
Barshim entered the Souq behind the bicycle used in the Rio 2016 Opening Ceremony and received huge cheers from the crowd. He was then welcomed to stage and shown a surprise film with the highlights of his victory, before silver confetti was fired into the air.
“When I was young I used to watch my father and other great athletes and dream of standing on the podium at the Olympic Games.
“Today, at the age of 25, I celebrate winning my second Olympic medal and for me that is such a blessing. It was a great competition and having HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani in the crowd supporting me every step of the way was extra motivation.
“Not only that, but the first call I received after the competition was from the Emir himself, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani,” Barshim said.
“None of this would have been possible without the help of my parents, everyone in my country and God.
“I felt like the whole nation was behind me, supporting me every step of the way. This medal is for each and every one of you! I’m incredibly happy. Thank you!” he added.
Yesterday was the final day of operations at Bayt Qatar. The QOC’s hospitality house has been hugely successful and sold out to the public just four days after opening. It has also been rated as one of the top four hospitality houses by various international media outlets and has seen large numbers of Brazilian and international visitors experience Qatar’s warm hospitality, culture and passion for sport each day.
All proceeds of the hospitality house are being donated to Futuro Olimpico, a Brazilian NGO which supports and helps young people from disadvantaged backgrounds get into athletics and build a better future through sport. The donations will enable the NGO to buy new equipment and uniforms and provide a lasting legacy for Rio’s talented young athletes following the Rio Olympic Games.