QOC's Secretary General HE Sheikh Saoud Meets Prince Albert II of Monaco

Doha, December 06 (QNA) - HE Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Secretary General of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) conferred here Thursday with Prince Albert II of Monaco who is also President of Monaco National Olympic Committee and his accompanying delegation who are now on an official visit to Qatar to participate in the Climate Change Conference (COP18) now in session in the Qatari Capital. HE Sheikh Saoud welcomed the Prince of Monaco affirming QOC's due keenness to enhance cooperation and coordination with the Monaco and its National Olympic Committee and appreciated the visit. For his part, Prince Albert expressed admiration of the sports progress and flourishing in Qatar in terms of Qatar’s sports installations and facilities and highly lauded the warm welcome, hospitality and the well-preparations on part of Qatar to the international sports events and championships. He also praised the school Olympic programme QOC organizes in cooperation with the Supreme Education Council (SEC) over the past six years. Talks during the meeting also dealt with the close relations binding together the two parties especially in the sports field and discussed as well how best to benefit from expertise Monaco possesses in tourism field. Then Prince Albert of Monaco visited Aspire in the presence of Dahlan Jamaan Al Hamad, the Chairman of the Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) who is also the Vice President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF). The distinguished guest and his accompanying delegation toured Aspire Academy and inspected the various facilities of Aspire Zone and expressed admiration of such a splendid sports edifice. The Prince of Monaco paid another visit of Al Shaqab, member of Qatar Foundation and he and QOC's secretary general were welcomed upon arrival by Al-Shaqab Director General Fahad Al-Qahtani who briefed the guest on Al -Shaqab several facilities which include one of the biggest tracks in the world for jumping competitions. The air-conditioned inner track can absorb more than 5,000 people in addition to the outdoor track which can accommodate more than 7,000 people and is prepared to be expanded for multi-uses and can host any kind of sports events and other sports leagues and championships. It is worth to mention that Al Shaqab successfully hosted the first Horse Auction reserved to Qatari nationals on Saturday, December 1st, 2012, reaching a total of nearly two million Qatari Riyals as a result. Thirteen pure bred Arabian horses were up for sale in the auction as Local bidders vied for possessing offspring from the world famous Al Shaqab bloodlines. HH the Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, founded Al Shaqab in 1992 to preserve and further develop the Arabian horse in Qatar. Al Shaqab is led by HE Sheikh Mohamed Bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and encompasses an Endurance Team, Breeding & Show division, Riding Academy. In 2004, Al Shaqab proudly became a member of Qatar Foundation. Its mission is to be a global leader in preserving, improving and promoting the Arabian horse breed through setting the highest standards in show, breeding, equestrian arts and equine welfare- while encouraging community participation.(QNA)