Qatar Association of Athletics Federations (QAAF) reiterated its commitment to become a prime
destination for athletics as it celebrates the
10th anniversary of hosting a major international
event. The Qatar Athletic Super Grand Prix, taking
place on Friday at Suhaim Bin Hamad Stadium will
feature more than 250 athletes from 51 countries
in 20 events, 11 for men and nine for women."This event is internationally significant due to the number and strength of the participants," said Brig Gen Dahlan al-Hamad, the president of QAAF while addressing the media ahead of the meet. "With a team of hard working people we have managed to keep this level."
Qatar is the only country, entrusted by the athletics' world governing body, to host Super Grand Prix outside of Europe.
Japan's Ikeda Kumiko, the gold medalist in women's long jump here at the Asian Games last year, is among the first batch of athletes who have arrived here yesterday. A keen competition is expected to take place between her and Russian jumpers in Tatyana Kotova and Oxana Udmurtova for the mega show.
Portugal's Francis Obikwelu, who became the only second athlete after Italian Pietro Mennea in 1978 to win
both sprints at the same European championships at Gothenburg, Sweden last year, will lead a strong field featuring world's top five 100 metres runners.
The feature event promises to be a closest affair with American Shawn Crawford, who won the men's 200m gold medal in Athens Olympics, Darrell Brown of Trinidad and Tobago, and Jamaicans Michael Frater and Christopher Williams lining up for the top honour.
In the women's section, Allyson Felix will be trying to defend her victory here last year with a strong opposition from fellow Americans Stephanie Durst, Brianna Glenn and Lauryn Williams.
QAAF will be
rewarding $30,000 for breaking a world record,
while anyone setting a new regional record will
bag $5,000. Similarly, cash incentives of $2,500
and $1,500 are on offer for new meet and national
records respectively."It's a high-level meet with more than world's top 20 athletes competing in it. It will be the best chance to see from up close how star athletes make it their way to the top," he said.
Al-Hamad, who is also the senior vice-president of Asian Athletics Association, said that Asian countries, especially those in the gulf region are working to raise the level of women's participation in the sport.
Revealing plans to further promote athletics in the region, he said QAAF is hosting a marathon event in December and bidding to bring in more top class athletics competitions to Qatar, including World Indoor Championships.
"More athletes are coming here now because of good organisation and great atmosphere," said Sandro Giovanni, who is representative IAAF at the meet.
He noted that the meet here has added interest due to the upcoming 2007 World Athletics Championships starting from August 25 in Osaka, Japan. He also mentioned that field events would also receive a lot of importance, especially to throwing events. The show will have eight field events, four each in men's and women's categories.
Considering the big crowd attendance in last year's meet, the organisers have planned extra arrangement including shuttle bus service for the spectators to witness the event.
On the occasion, QAAF vice president Khalid Abdulla Mohamed al-Meer announced that there will be attractive prizes, including a car, which will be given to the lucky winners watching the competition.
In its bid to further popularise athletics among children in the country, QAAF is adding the 100x8 relay race to school competition that precedes the main event. There are already 64 entries from schools around Doha, including those from foreign schools.
