19.08.2008
Doha 2016 delegation supports Qatari athletes at Olympic test event
The Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Applicant Bid Committee delegation voiced their support for the Qatari athletes who will be competing in a test event at the Beijing Shooting Range whilst in Beijing for the 16th General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC).
The Doha 2016 Observer delegation includes Mr Hassan Ali Bin Ali, Chairman of the 2016 Bid Committee and Dr Abdullah bin Ali Al-Thani, Doha 2016 Board Member and Vice President of Education at the Qatar Foundation.
“We are proud to support our national shooting team today in this competition leading up to the Summer Games. It is a great opportunity for the athletes compete in an Olympic venue in preparation for the Olympiad,” said Bid Chairman Hassan Ali Bin Ali.
The 2008 ISSF (International Shooting Sport Federation) World Cup is to be held at the Beijing Shooting Range Hall and Beijing Shooting Range Clay-Target Field from April 10 to 21. Over 1,500 participants including shooters, competition officials and ISSF officials from 92 countries will attend the event; making it the biggest international shooting event ever held in China.
Qatar will be sending two members of the national shooting team to compete in the shooting events during this year’s edition of the Summer Games. Nasser Saleh Al-Attiya and Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Atiaya have both qualified for the XXIX Olympiad and will be competing in the skeet competitions.
“It is an honour to represent Qatar at the 2008 ISSF World Cup in Beijing. It provides all of the athletes in attendance an excellent opportunity to compete in the Olympic venue that we will be used for the Games in August,” said Abdulaziz Saleh Al-Atiaya.
As this World Cup will be the only chance for athletes to adapt themselves to the venue and equipment for the Beijing Olympic Games, all teams have attached great importance to it by sending all their shooters qualified for the Games to Beijing. The 2008 ISSF World Cup would also be used as a test run of the venue operation for the Olympic shooting competitions.
16 Qatari athletes have qualified for the Summer Games in a variety of disciplines including the 800m, 1500m, 5000m, marathon, discus, taekwondo and swimming.