World Athletics president praises Qatar’s efforts in advancing sports

President of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, commended the State of Qatar’s contributions to the development of sports at both technical and administrative levels, locally and globally, through its professionals holding international positions and leading continental federations.Speaking during the Asian Athletics Association Board of Directors meetings in Doha, Coe expressed his admiration for Qatar’s ambitious approach to hosting global and regional championships.It is a source of pride, he said, highlighting the successful hosting of the 2019 World Athletics Championships, which met the highest standards and fulfilled the goals of Olympic champions.Coe emphasised that Qatar possesses the expertise and resources to host the Olympic Games, thanks to its accumulated experience in organising world-class events and its long-term vision for sports development. He also praised the leadership of President of the Asian Athletics Association, Dahlan Jumaan al-Hamad, under whom Asian athletics has seen historic advancements. Coe noted the remarkable performances of Asian athletes at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the increase in Asian medals at the World Athletics Championships, and the successes at youth and junior world championships in Peru and other editions in recent years.Coe stated that Asia is poised to dominate athletics in the future, supported by studies, statistics, and initiatives under the leadership of the President of the Asian Athletics Association. He pointed out that Asia will host the World Athletics Championships in Japan in 2025 and in China in 2027, along with various other global events, reflecting the continent’s remarkable progress and commitment to the sport.Coe concluded by stating his willingness to run for the presidency of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) if the members of the committee support his candidacy.