A general view outside the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, in this file photo.
The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the Doha 2023 yesterday promised Qatar will spare no effort in hosting a magnificent edition of the World Judo Championships when the country hosts the best athletes in the world from May 7-14.
The eight-day event which offers a staggering total prize money of €1m will see a total of 668 judokas representing 99 countries in action at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena.
Addressing a press conference held yesterday, Khalid bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Vice president of the LOC, stated: “The World Judo Championships - Doha 2023 are an occasion to welcome the world’s most prominent and talented athletes in one of the world’s most popular sports.
“We thank His Excellency Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of the Organising Committee and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, for his unwavering support and supervision,” Al Attiyah who is also the President of the Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation, said.
“Qatar has always been a centre for major sporting events, starting from the 2006 Asian Games to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and the Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation (QTJKF) has spared no effort in supporting and promoting judo in Qatar and the 2023 World Judo Championships. Qatar welcomes, in cooperation with the International Judo Federation, 668 male and female players among the best athletes in this game globally, representing 99 countries,” Al Attiyah said.
Al Attiyah also added that the organising committee will hold a meeting with the International Judo Federation (IJF) President Marius Vizer, and the IJF Executive Committee, to discuss the final preparations today.
FROM LEFT: Vice Chairman of the Marketing and Communication Committee and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Tournament Abdullah Al Marri, Media and Broadcasting Committee Chairman H E Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, LOC Vice President and President of the Qatar Taekwondo, Judo and Karate Federation (QTJKF) Khalid bin Hamad Al Attiyah, QTJKF Secretary-General and Chairman of the Sports Committee Eid Ali Al Muraikhi and Chairman of the Marketing and Communication Committee and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies Abdul Hadi Misfer Al Marri, during a press conference yesterday.
During the conference, also attended by Chairman of the Media and Broadcasting Committee H E Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, QTJKF Secretary-General and Chairman of the Sports Committee Eid Ali Al Muraikhi, Chairman of the Marketing and Communication Committee and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies Abdul Hadi Misfer Al Marri, and Vice Chairman of the Marketing and Communication Committee and the Opening and Closing Ceremonies of the Tournament Abdullah Al Marri, officials provided a comprehensive overview of its readiness to host the event.
Al Muraikhi spoke about the significance of the competition for Qatari judokas, saying: “Our dedicated team has worked to ensure a successful championship, and we hope that our national team will score the points that enable them to qualify for the 2024 Olympic Games to be held in Paris.”
Among the judokas who will descend in Doha, there will be a number of world number ones, Continental champions as well as IJF Grand Slam champions, including Shirin Boukli (FRA, -48kg), Rafaela Silva (BRA, -57kg), Lucy Renshall (GBR, -63kg), Barbara Matic (CRO, -70kg), Alice Bellandi (IRA, -78kg), Romane Dicko (FRA, +78kg), Yang Yung Wei (TPE, -60kg), Denis Vieru (MDA, -66kg), Lasha Shavdatuashvili (GEO, -73kg), Tato Grigalashvili (GEO, -81kg), Davalat Bobonov (UZB, -90kg), Ilia Sulamanidze (GEO, -100kg) and Temur Rakhimov (TJK, +100kg), making up pretty strong fields in their respective weight classes.
On his part, Chairman of the Media and Broadcasting Committee, Sheikh Hamad said that more than 195 local and foreign journalists will be covering the tournament, and the LOC is ready for the challenging task of providing all the satisfactory media services in coordination with the IJF.
Tomorrow, the IJF General Assembly will be held in the presence of all member federations, and the official draw will take place at 2pm on Saturday, May 6, prior to the weigh-in for athletes who will compete the next day.
Tickets for the event are priced at QR30 per competition day and will be free for students and handicapped.
