DOHA TO HOST THE 2019 IAAF WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Doha won the right to host the 2019 IAAF World Championships, the IAAF Council announced at the Fairmont Hotel in Monaco on Tuesday (18).

Doha (QAT) was selected by a vote of Council over Barcelona (ESP) and Eugene (USA) for the right to host the 17th edition of the IAAF World Championships.

The voting was as follows:

First round: Doha – 12, Eugene – 9, Barcelona – 6 (Barcelona was eliminated).

Second round: Doha – 15, Eugene – 12.

“I am sure that in Doha we will have a wonderful edition of the World Championships. I am convinced they are committed through sport to developing their country and their community, and they are doing the right things,” commented IAAF President Lamine Diack.

President Diack also offered his thanks to all three candidates: “They were the best presentations we have ever had.”

“It’s a privilege and honour to have the trust of the IAAF,” said Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, the Doha bid leader.

“I am very delighted that these championships are going to be for the first time in the region. I’m confident that with the support of the IAAF we will organise one of the best World Championships,” he added.

“This is a great moment for me as the president of the Qatari Athletics Federation, and as a Qatari. We have dreamed about organising such an event for a long time and, on behalf of the Qatari athletics final, we would like to thank the IAAF Council and IAAF Family for giving Qatar the chance to host one of the most prestigious championships,” said Dahlan Al Hamad, Qatari Athletics Federation President and an IAAF Council member.

“We have always delivered what we have promised, such as in 2010 when we had the World Indoor Championships. Since that time we have committed to working hand in hand with the IAAF to optimise their globalisation philosophy,” added Dahlan Al Hamad.

The 2015 edition will be hosted by Beijing (CHN) from 22-30 August, followed in 2017 by London (GBR) from 5-13 August that year.

Source: IAAF.org