Four world class venues are taking shape ahead of the inaugural Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) World Beach Games Qatar 2019, which will be held from October 12-16.
An eye-catching mix of new beach front locations and state-of-the-art permanent venues have been chosen to host the 13 sports with up to 1,300 athletes set to compete for 350 medals.
The striking setting of Katara Beach, on the northern shores of Doha, will be the multi-sport event’s epicentre, hosting all of the medal events as well as the complete competitions for 3x3 Basketball, Kitefoil Racing, Open Water Swimming 5Km, Aquathlon, Individual Kata, Beach Wrestling, Beach Tennis and Beach Soccer.
Al Gharafa Sports Club will be converted into a dazzling host venue for the Beach Handball and Beach Volleyball, while the world-famous Aspire Zone, in the heart of Doha, will open its doors to Bouldering and Skateboarding. The Waterski Jump and the Wakeboard events will be held in the idyllic waters of the Ritz-Carlton Canal.
The nature of the event has enabled the organisers to select locations that will showcase Qatar as a leading leisure destination, with athletes, coaches, officials and supporters guaranteed specially-tailored venues that will be worthy of such a prestigious event.
Yesterday, the first of its daily morning Chef de Mission meetings was held in the build up to the Games. The meeting, which was held in the Athletes’ Village – Ezdan Hotel – provided an update to all NOCs on a number of areas including, transport, Athlete’s Village and Services, NOC Services and Medical Services. NOCs also had the opportunity to ask questions to clarify any outstanding matters.
The meeting will take place every morning in the Athletes’ Village. Today’s meeting is set to see even more NOCs in attendance with more than 500 athletes, officials and NOC representatives arriving in Qatar over the next 24 hours.
Meanwhile, the 350 medal winners will be awarded one of the most distinctive medal designs ever. Shaped like an ocean pebble, the medals include engravings of marine life found all over the globe – dolphins, crabs, coral and various fish.
The medals were inspired by beach sport’s beautiful connection to nature, and capturing that essence has been a priority for the ANOC World Beach Games. “These games are symbiotic with nature, and our mission has been to create the first multisport event that leaves positive impacts on local environments and local communities. These innovative medals symbolise both the success of the elite athletes, and our harmonious relationship with the environment.” said ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg.
Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has been named the official partner of the Games while Katara Cultural Village and Aspire Zone Foundation are the Official Venue Partners. The Official Sponsors are: Baladna, the largest dairy producer in Qatar; Mowasalat, a leading transportation company in Qatar; and Bornan, the prominent international sports technology company.
The Official Suppliers include: Xtreme Marine, a major supplier of boats and boats maintenance; Sports Corner, a top brand in sports apparel and equipment, and Al Rawda, the foremost Qatari water company.
The action will get underway on Friday, one day before the official opening ceremony, and will conclude on October 16. Fans will be able to watch live streaming of competitions on the official website — www.awbgqatar.com
Australian athletes pose after their arrival in Doha yesterday, for the first ever ANOC World Beach Games.
