The Ministry of Education and Higher Education has held a meeting with a delegation from the International Junior Science Olympiad organisation that is currently visiting the country to review the preparations of Qatar to host the 16th International Youth Science Olympiad – Qatar 2019, to be held from December 3 to 12. 
The meeting was chaired by Fawzia Abdulaziz al-Khater, Assistant Undersecretary for Educational Affairs at the ministry and vice-chairperson of the 16th Olympiad organising committee; and Professor Paresh Joshi, president of the International Junior Science 
Olympiad organisation. 
The meeting was attended by Robin Powles, secretary-general of the organisation; Dr Khalid Abdulla al-Ali, Assistant Undersecretary for Higher Education Affairs and chairman of the scientific committee; Ali Abdullah al-Buainain, Assistant Undersecretary for Shared Services Affairs and a committee chairman; Hassan Abdulla al-Mohamedi, chairman of the media committee; and Ghada Larm, co-ordinator for hospitality affairs. 
The meeting was also attended by a number of senior officials in the education sector along with Ginting Masno, founder of the organisation, and Deepak Mathur, adviser to the 
Scientific Committee.
At the beginning of the meeting, al-Khater welcomed the visiting delegation members and presented the preparations of Qatar for hosting the 16th International Junior Science 
Olympiad. 
The organising committee developed a structure and executive plan as part of the preparations and launched the official website that contains all necessary information for the participating countries. Other government entities, namely the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Interior, Transport & Communications, Culture & Sports, and Public Health, as well as the National Tourism Council are contributing to making the Olympiad a successful one, it was observed.
Qatar provides accommodation and transportation for delegations between the venues of the International Junior Science Olympiad, as well as facilitating traffic and issuing entry visas. The organising committee, in co-operation with relevant embassies and cultural attachés in Qatar, also issued invitations to participate in the Olympiad. The committee is also partnering with the Ministry of Public Health to provide high-quality healthcare to all the participants.
The venues of the International Junior Science Olympiad will be as follows: tests will be administered at Qatar National Convention Centre, while Ezdan Palace Hotel is designated as a residency for students, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education has said in a statement. Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel was chosen to accommodate the participating team leaders, observers, guests and committee members.
Al-Khater said the organising committee aims to welcome 70 countries for the Olympiad, and 62 countries have their confirmed participation so far, a number expected to increase by the registration deadline.
She also summarised the distinctive aspects of the upcoming Olympiad in Qatar. The number of participating countries has surpassed the Olympiad organised in the Netherlands and will be the largest in terms of participation. The participating countries will further enjoy privileges for aviation, accommodation, healthcare and security services. 
The meeting presented a documentary film on the preparations and readiness of Qatar to host the Olympiad, and showcased the achievements of the country and various aspects of its economic, scientific and sports renaissance.
Professor Joshi expressed happiness with the preparations of Qatar to host the Olympiad, praising the efforts of the organising committee to attract the largest number of countries to participate in the sixteenth edition in Qatar. He also praised the presentation that confirmed the readiness to host the Olympiad. Qatar is practically ready to organise the International Junior Science Olympiad and it already feels like December 3, he added.
After the meeting, the delegation inaugurated the official headquarters of the local organising committee of the International Junior Science Olympiad at the Ministry of Education and Higher Education.
The delegation has also visited Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development and Qatar National Convention Centre.