Lausanne: The Association of National Olympic Committees ( ANOC) yesterday announced the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games will be hosted by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC).

“Qatar boasts spectacular oceanfront locations and is ready to provide the perfect setting for NOCs and their athletes to compete in exciting beach, action and water sports,” ANOC said in a press statement yesterday.

The state of Qatar has a proven track-record in successfully hosting international events, including Asian Games 2006; World Indoor Athletics Championship 2010, World Handball Championship 2015; and other international championships in swimming, gymnastics and cycling.

Qatar is also set to host several major tournaments, including the 2019 World Athletics Championships, the 2022 World Cup, the 2023 World Water Games and other major tournaments on its calendar.

In order to prevent disruption to the NOCs and their athletes, the sports programme will remain unchanged and the dates of the Games will be moved back just a few days to October 12-16. There will also be no impact on the ongoing qualification process which has seen more than 70 national Olympic committees (NOC) qualify across the 14 sports, with athletes from up to 90 nations ultimately expected to compete.

Qatar will also host the ANOC General Assembly and ANOC Awards, which will now take place immediately after the Games on (October 17-18). NOC delegates attending the ANOC General Assembly will be invited to arrive in Qatar at the start of the Games so that all NOCs will be able to enjoy the inaugural event.

QOC Secretary-General Jassim Rashid Al Buainain: “We are proud of this confidence which underlines Qatar’s leading position in the global sporting. At the same time, we are fully committed to live up to the challenge by hosting the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games in the best possible way, despite the short time available to prepare for the tournament.

QOC Secretary-General said he is confident that the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games will be an event to remember, pointing to Qatar’s experiences in organizing sports events in various games.

Al Buainain extended thanks the Association of National Olympic Committees for giving Qatar the opportunity to host the first edition of the ANOC World Beach Games.

Source: Peninsula