Doha: The Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) has unveiled the details of the Qatar International Friendship Artistic Gymnastics Championship, set to take place in Doha on February 21-22 at Aspire Academy.
The event will feature a distinguished group of young female gymnasts from six countries—Qatar, Kuwait, the UAE, Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq—who have been divided into 16 teams.
The announcement was made during a press conference held yesterday at the Millennium Hotel, attended by QGF President Ali Al Hitmi, QGF Secretary-General Abeer Al Buainain and QGF Technical Secretary Nasser Al Hamad.
"The Qatar International Friendship Championship serve as an opportunity for clubs and academies to participate, gain valuable experience through strong competition, and assess the skill levels of young gymnasts.
It is also an essential step in preparing them for major international tournaments," said Al Hitmi.
"We have 225 gymnasts from six countries, which is a very large number. Everyone is keen to participate and benefit from high-level competition."
On the organisational side, Al Hitmi emphasised, "We have extensive experience in hosting events. The organizing team for this championship is the same team that has been managing the FIG World Cup series for the past 17 years.
This reflects our professionalism in organizing events and our commitment to making this championship a steppingstone for future tournaments, including competitions for boys and other age categories."
Abeer Al Buainain expressed her excitement about the event, stating "We are delighted to organize a competition for young female gymnasts aged 7 to 16.
There are very few tournaments for this age group, making this championship a valuable opportunity for the athletes to showcase their skills and compete at the highest levels."
From a technical perspective, Nasser Al Hamad provided insights into the tournament's schedule, saying" "The first day, February 20, will be dedicated to the arrival of delegations, judges' meetings, and team meetings.
The competition will officially begin on February 21, featuring five levels of competition running from 8 AM to 9 PM. The final day, February 22, will see contests held across two levels, with winners being crowned in each age category separately."
"All competitions will adhere to the regulations of the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to ensure the tournament maintains an official status." He added.
Regarding audience attendance, Al Hamad said, "Tickets will be available for spectators starting at QAR 30. A significant crowd turnout is expected, as competitions in this age group tend to attract considerable interest."
Caption: QGF President Ali Al Hitmi, QGF Secretary-General Abeer Al Buainain and QGF Technical Secretary Nasser Al Hamad during a press conference on Wednesday.
