National Day/ New Era of Sports Development

Doha, December 16 (QNA) - The State of Qatar celebrates the National Day this year marking a new era of sports development after a proven track record of achievements in the various types of sports. Since the seventies of the last century, the State of Qatar has moved forward starting with its interest in all types of sports, to supporting its athletes in all sports forums, to finally the establishment of an integrated system of all what would contributes to the development of the sport sector locally and internationally. This year, Qatar gained further international trust after it managed to win the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup; and the right to host the 12th edition FINA World Swimming Championships (25M) in December 2014. The state is also seeking to host several world sport events in 2018 and 2019 and is pushing for the 2020 Olympic Games. Qatar also confirmed its commitment to the sport sector through the establishment of several modern sport facilities while observing the concept of sustainable development in all its establishments. Among the pioneering sport landmarks in the State of Qatar is the Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) which managed to rise to international prominence through successful staging of 2006 Asian Games. AZF is home to some of the world s finest sport stadia and venues offering a stimulating combination of sport, sports medicine and research, and sport education. Aspire Zone Foundation, Middle East s premier sports city, has been voted the world s Leading Sports Tourism Development Project for the first time at the World Travel Awards 2012. The prestigious award is a testament of AZF s engaging yearlong event calendar with programs that develop sports champions, promote healthy lifestyles and galvanize the sports economy of today through a network of special business units (SBUs): Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, ASPETAR, and Aspire Logistics. In 2011, AZF hosted the opening, final and a number of key matches of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup from 7-29 January, while in also in 2011, AZF served as the main venue for the 2011 Pan Arab Games from 6-23 December attracting hundreds of thousands of visitors from across the continent and the region respectively. Aspire Zone Foundation organizes several events that attract hundreds of visitors to Qatar. In January 2012, AZF organized the Doha GOALS Pre-Forum a gathering of 50 of sport industry s top leaders, hosted a training camp for three top European football teams; Bayern Munich, Schalke, Paris Saint-Germain, hosted the inaugural Al Kass International Cup U-17, and welcomed 30 under-privileged youth to a leadership camp in partnership with the UN, and successfully provided medical services to the world s top male tennis players participating in the ATP season opener at the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2012, and much more. Meanwhile, Aspetar (Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital) is the region s first specialized orthopedic and sports medicine hospital providing industry-leading solutions and medical treatments to athletes and sportspersons. The state-of-the-art facility also boasts a FIFA-accredited Medical Centre of Excellence. Aspire LOGISTICS, AZF s third and the latest SBU, manages the precinct s world-class sporting venues as well as providing venue and event management services for different sectors. Qatar, which has emerged as one of the top sporting hubs, added yet another feature to its surging infrastructure facilities with the inauguration of the Anti-Doping Laboratory Qatar (ADLQ) in the Aspire Zone. Equipped with cutting-edge technology and a specialist team, ADLQ will provide testing for all known forms of doping including testosterone, amphetamines, blood doping (reinfusion), anabolic steroids, EPO, HGH, beta blockers and even the newest form of doping - genetic doping and will provide for anti-doping testing for athletes across the Gulf region as well as West Asia. Doping control tests will be administered during competition, training and even in the off-season on athletes and tested at the laboratory located at Aspire Zone. The facility will also conduct ongoing research into the use of prohibited substances, test-development, and other issues involved with drug use in sports. ADLQ, which endeavours to eliminate drug use in all sports and uphold the Olympic ideals of fair play and sportsmanship, is aiming to get the World Anti Doping Agency (WADA) accreditation by the end of 2014, joining an elite group of labs that have won WADA s endorsement so far. The State of Qatar accomplished glorious achievements at the London 2012 Olympic Games which took place in the British capital London. Some 12 prominent athletes, including 4 girls, represented Qatar in London 2012 Olympic Games. Qatari shooter Nasser Al Attiyah has won the bronze medal in the men s skeet competition during a shoot-off at the London 2012 Summer Olympic Games. It was the first medal for Qatar and the Arab world at the London 2012 Olympics, and the first win for the country since Said Saif Asaad won a bronze for weightlifting in the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Mutaz Barshim has won Qatar s second medal at the London 2012 Olympics, taking bronze in the high jump. The 21-year-old cleared 2.29M to finish in third. By winning the bronze, Barshim becomes the fourth athlete to have ever won an Olympic medal for Qatar, and his win marks the first time the country has ever won two medals at a single edition of the Games. This year, Qatari athletes made many achievements at both the individual and team levels in the various sports types; and there are still several regional and global participations and achievements awaiting them. (QNA)