Representatives from more than 80 NOCs attended the Chef de Mission Seminar in Doha as the ANOC World Beach Games Organising Committee continues to press ahead with its preparations and ensure that the best possible environment awaits the athletes.
The meetings was held at the Ezdan Hotel Doha with Jassim bin Rashid al-Buenain, Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) attending the meeting. The first edition of ANOC World Beach Games 2019 will take place in Doha, where athletes will compete in 14 beach sports at world class venues of Katara (Cultural Village Foundation) and Al Gharafa sport club.
So far, 84 national federations from all five continents have qualified for the inaugural Games, however, it is expected that the final number of NOCs qualified will exceed 100, guaranteeing a truly global celebration of sport.
A welcome reception, showcasing the Qatari culture, was held on Monday evening before the Chef de Mission Seminar officially began on Tuesday. The morning of the first day was focused on the proposed venue master plan, which remains subject to adjustments pending feedback from the IFs, and the Athletes’ Village. In the afternoon, the Chef de Missions toured the Athletes’ Village, which will be located in the Ezdan Hotel, and visited the different accommodation rooms and meeting rooms. Delegates then saw the proposed locations of the venue master plan as they toured Katara Beach and the Gharafa Beach Sports Complex.
On the second day, there was a presentation on the delegation registration process before more comprehensive presentations on Games Services, including: arrivals and departures, accommodation, transport, security, media, anti-doping, telecommunications, ticketing and ceremonies. The meeting concluded with presentations on NOC services.
Al-Buenain opened the meeting with a welcome speech to Chefs de Missions representing 80 nations from all continents. “We are very grateful to welcome all participants in ANOC inaugural World Beach Games which will take place in Doha, a city that closely and historically linked to the sea a long time ago “ he said.
“ On behalf of QOC, we appreciate the big confidence given to Qatar to host the Games. It is a great honour to be part of ANOC’s history, everyone knows Qatar’s rich history in hosting international sport events due to its large-scale administrative experience and human force,” he added.
ANOC Secretary-General Gunilla Lindberg praised Doha’s initiative to host the first ANOC World Beach Games 2019. “It was impossible for any nation to host the Games in such a short period (three months) after USA’s San Diego pulled out. It had been a really challenge for us, but were really delighted to see Qatar’s initiative to host ANOC 2019 World Beach Games, General Assembly meeting and Awards Ceremony from 17-18 October,” she said.
“The state of Qatar hosted the ANOC General meetings in 2016 and now thanks to its perfect sport facilities and beautiful beaches, it can easily host more than 5,000 guests including 1,600 athletes representing 110 countries,” Lindberg added.
ANOC Technical Director Haider Farman lauded the plans set by Qatar to host the games and stressed that what has been accomplished during the last two weeks reflects its great experience in hosting the major sporting events. “The format of ANOC World Beach Games in its first edition will follow the ideas been used in the previous OCA Asian Beach Games” he said.
The ANOC announced that the Qatar will host the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games after Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani signed the contract in June on the sidelines of the inauguration ceremony of the new IOC headquarters in Lausanne.
Chef de Missions toured the Katara Beach and the Gharafa Beach Sports Complex, where the ANOC World Beach Games 2019 will take place in Doha.
