Medals Won in Tokyo a New Starting Point for Qatar Sport Movement: HE
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QatarTribune Qatar_Tribune England’s QatarTribuneChannel qatar_tribune Euros star Kalvin Phillips targets 2022 World Cup glory PAGE 14 WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 25, 2021 Medals won in Tokyo a new starting point for Qatar sport movement: HE Sheikh Joaan resident of the Qatar Olympic to make great progress, and the Committee (QOC) HE Sheikh development of sport in Qatar soon Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani has resulted in two bronze medals at stressed that Qatar’s historic London 2012. Qatar’s Nasser al achievementP at the 32nd Summer Attiyah claimed the bronze medal in Olympic Games, Tokyo 2020, of win- the men’s skeet event and Mutaz ning two gold medals and a bronze Barshim won the men’s high jump medal, was the result of the great bronze medal, taking Qatar to 76th support of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim place in the overall standings. bin Hamad Al Thani to Qatari sport. In Rio 2016, Mutaz Barshim clinched HE Sheikh Joaan said Qatar’s partici- Qatar’s first silver medal as Qatar pation at the Olympic Games Tokyo took the 69th place in the medal 2020 in Japan was the best perfor- table, while in the last edition of the mance in the history of Qatari sports, Games in Tokyo, Qatar claimed two lauding the gradual increase in the historic gold medals and a bronze tally of medals and the progress in medal to occupy the 41st place in overall ranking. the overall standings. The QOC President underlined that Looking at these statistics, Qatar’s the three medals won by Team Qatar participation in the Olympic Games at the recent edition of the Games is witnessing a significant increase will serve as a springboard for Qatari in the tally of medals and gradual sport. He also confirmed that the QOC progress in the ranking we occupy. will now look beyond Tokyo 2020 and Moreover, the last editions of the evaluate Qatar’s participation on both Games featured the emergence of technical and administrative levels some promising stars thanks to the to maintain its dominance in future planning and the huge efforts made tournaments. by the former leadership of Qatari HE Sheikh Joaan said that as a sup- sport and are complemented by its portive and founding partner of the current leadership. Olympic Refuge Foundation, the QOC is ready and excited to provide even Qatar has made great strides in more opportunities in this regard, HE Sheikh Joaan bin hamad Al Thani, President, Qatar Olympic Committee (Centre), along with the medal winners at Tokyo Olympics -- Mutaz Essa Barshim and Paralympic sports, can you please which is why Doha hosted the train- Fares Ibrahim (gold), and Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan (silver), and other officials on Qatar Olympic contingent’s arrival home from Japan on August 7, 2021. tell us about the development of ing camp of the IOC Refugee Olympic these sports in Qatar, and latest Team ahead of Tokyo 2020. to thank the Qatari athletes, sports ping the sport’s world ranking. The preparations for the Paralympic He also revealed that bidding for the federations and all the QOC staff for “Abdulrahman Abdulqader and Sara Masoud – two champions Qatari duo didn’t let us down and Games in Tokyo? right to host the 2030 Asian Games their faithful efforts that made this will represent Qatar at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. I took the bronze medal, which was The State of Qatar has reaffirmed its reflects the complete conviction that accomplishment possible. wish they can do us proud during this edition of the Games.” in fact the first Arab medal in team great interest in Paralympic sports all factors which would help organise A total of 15 athletes have proudly events. With this medal tally, Qatar and the Qatar Paralympic Committee a successful edition of the Games are represented Qatar in seven sports at How did you achieve this unprec- left no stone unturned to provide our led all other Arab countries during (QPC) is working hard to make us available in Doha, such as world-class the Olympic Games Tokyo including edented accomplishment at the athletes with an ideal environment. the Games and took 41st place in proud in upcoming events. This is sports facilities and highly-experi- athletics, weightlifting, beach volley- Olympic Games by winning two gold Most importantly, we appreciate the the overall standings. aligned with Qatar’s commitment to enced sports officials. He explained ball, judo, swimming, shooting and medals and a bronze medal? tireless work and sacrifices that our Meanwhile, the other Qatari athletes being an open and accessible country that Doha’s successful bid showcases rowing. The support of HH the Amir of the athletes have shown in their prepara- also demonstrated clear signs of im- for all. the confidence of Asia in Qatar’s abil- We can say that our Tokyo 2020 cam- State of Qatar to Qatari sport is a tions, discipline and achievements. provement during the Games and we Qatar made its Paralympic Games ity to host an exceptional edition of paign was the best in the history of driving force behind this achieve- They have made this accomplish- are certainly considering this edition debut at the 1996 Summer Paralym- the Asian Games. Qatari sport as we claimed two gold ment. It came as a result of many ment a reality. of the Games as just the beginning pic Games in Atlanta. During the Rio The QOC President reaffirmed that medals for the very first time when years of planning and effort, even of more achievements to come. 2016 Paralympic Games, Qatar won Doha continues to build a name as Fares Ibrahim won a gold medal in before I assumed the presidency of Does winning these three medals two medals when Abdulrahman Abdul- a sporting capital of the world, as weightlifting (96kg category) and the QOC. mean that you’ve achieved every- Qatar has participated in many qader and Sara Masoud claimed sil- Qatar was one of the few nations to Mutaz Barshim took the high jump After the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, thing you aspired for at Olympics? Olympic Games, how do you see ver medals in the men’s and women’s deliver a significant number of safe gold medal. we began evaluating Qatar’s partici- Before the Games, we were aiming to team Qatar’s benefits from these shotput events. and secure sports events during the Qatar’s beach volleyball duo also pation in that Games and developed write a new chapter in the history of participations and their impact on Abdulrahman Abdulqader also COVID-19 pandemic. clinched the bronze medal which was the QOC’s strategic plan for 2017- Qatari sport by winning a gold medal Qatari sport? claimed the gold medal at the 2017 the first Arabic medal in team events. 2022 which is based on three main after we won five medals (one silver Qatar’s first Olympic Games appear- World Para Athletics Championships Excerpts from the interview Qatar also led the medal standings pillars, including: increasing com- medal and four bronze medals) ance was in Los Angeles 1984, and while Sara clinched the silver medal of Arab nations at Tokyo 2020, and munity participation in sport, reviving during the previous editions. we have been represented at every in the same event. These two cham- Firstly, how do you evaluate Qatar’s secured the 41st place in the overall the Olympic values and ensuring We achieved our goal when Fares edition of the Games since. pions will represent Qatar at the participation in the 32nd Summer standings of the Games. sporting excellence at both local and Ibrahim claimed the weightlifting Mohamed Suleiman claimed Qa- Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, so I Olympics, Tokyo 2020? I would also like to underline that the international levels. gold medal which was followed by tar’s first-ever bronze medal at the wish they can do us proud in this edi- Firstly, I want to congratulate HH goal of our participation in Tokyo was In this regard, I would like to praise Mutaz Barshim’s gold medal in the Olympic Games Barcelona 1992 in tion of the Games. We have also de- the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad not limited to winning medals, but the efforts of the QOC Secretary-Gen- high jump. After this, we turned our the 1500m. At Sydney 2000, Said veloped a detailed plan to build new Al Thani, HH the Father Amir Sheikh also included developing the skills eral in implementing the plans and attention to Qatar’s beach volleyball Saif Asaad clinched Qatar’s second generations of Paralympic champions Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and of our promising champions and programmes, as well as the contribu- team Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Olympic medal when he took the in cooperation with the QPC. the Qatari people on Team Qatar’s building a new generation of Qatari tions of Team Qatar’s administrative Tijan who were clear favourites for an bronze medal in the 105kg weight- historic achievement. I also want athletes and teams. delegation during the Games who Olympic medal, especially after top- lifting event. Qatari sport continued Continued on page 13 Tokyo Paralympics opened by Japanese emperor Naruhito AGENCIES added to the program for the Tokyo first time, while other sports include swimming, athletics, Japan’s emperor Naruhito boccia and wheelchair tennis. on Tuesday officially opened “I declare open the Tokyo the Tokyo Paralympics which 2020 Paralympic Games,” take place shortly after the Japanese Emperor Naruhito Olympics in the Japanese cap- said at the National Stadium, ital and run until September 5. with the 68,000-capacity main The opening ceremony venue a sea of empty seats be- took place behind closed doors cause only VIPs were allowed at the Olympic Stadium amid to attend as a precaution a strict coronavirus-related against the spread of the virus.