02.12.2008
Doha, 5 December 2007 – The Heads of State of all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries have pledged their unanimous support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid at their summit in Doha this week.
In a statement at the end of the summit, the Heads of State of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates announced: “The Summit declares its support for Doha’s bid to host the 2016 Games, as well as its support as part of the international community in making this wish come true.”
The summit also backed the development of an international laboratory, to be based in Doha, which would assist in the fight against doping in sport – and agreed that all GCC countries should sign the international agreement issued by UNESCO on anti-doping in sport.
Following the announcement, Mr Hassan Ali Bin Ali, Chairman of the Doha 2016 Bid Committee, sent a message of thanks back to the GCC Heads of State, saying: “I send my heartfelt thanks to all the Heads of State of the GCC for their welcome support of Doha’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the closing session of the 28th GCC Summit, which concluded yesterday in Doha.”
Commenting on the GCC pledge, Mr Hassan later added: “This is an enormous boost to the Doha 2016 Bid team. Our aim is to build support for the Bid all across the Arab world and beyond.”
“We are extremely grateful for this unprecedented support for our Bid, which will be a Bid that the whole Arab world can be proud of.”
“Already, the Olympic Movement is demonstrating its power to unite an entire region in its support. Awarding Doha the 2016 Games would unleash the full power of the Olympic Movement and peaceful sporting competition to create understanding, hope and change that could then unite this entire region with the rest of the world.”
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