DOHA: Romanian coach Octavian Bellu yesterday urged Qatar to host more events, saying Doha could even host the world championships if given a chance.
Bellu, who was inducted into International Gymnastics Hall of Fame in 2009, said: “This is my third time in Doha with the Romanian delegation. This is what I was discussing with Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF). You need to have more than one World Challenge Cup edition. You need to (probably) host the world championships.”
The 62-year-old - credited for helping Romania win dozens of medals in gymnastics - said Qatar has everything to bring the World Championships to the Middle East.
“Qatar has the money besides a team that can organise top events. Other aspects like good hotels and top-clash venues are also not an issue,” Bellu said.
“Qatar hosted the gymnastics at the Asian Games in 2006 at this very venue. This facility was used then. It was also used during the Arab Games (in December 2011).
“You have enough reasons to give to FIG (world body in gymnastics) to show what you want,” he said.
“Qatar can give the gymnastics explosion in a positive way,” he added.
“That way you can introduce the sport to young fans.
“Hosting an edition of the World Championships is different to staging an event like this one (6th FIG World Challenge Cup). At the World Championships you see top gymnasts from China, Romania, Russia and the rest of the globe present at one venue.
“Even members of the international media will be greater than what we see at regular events. I think bidding for the World Championships in Doha is upto Qatar,” Bellu added.
Mohamed Al Jaber, Secretary General, QGF, said: “We are delighted to be in a position to stage the FIG World Challenge Cup. We have been doing this for the past five years and now we are comfortable handling such a big event.”
He added: “We hope to help our gymnasts improve their performances by getting them to compete with the best in the world. God Willing we will look into this.”
Top Dutch gymnast Yuri van Gelder will join a host of top gymnasts including London Olympic Games star Krisztian Berki of Hungary, Brazil’s Arthur Zanneti and Larisa Andreea of Romania at the three-day event to be hosted by Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) from March 27 to 29.
More than 150 gymnasts from 37 countries will take part in the event, Ali Al Hitmi, President, QGF, said earlier last week.
“The Doha leg of the World Challenge Cup has become a prestigious event for the gymnasts,” Al Hitmi said yesterday.
“The points accumulated by the gymnasts at World Challenge Cup series make the difference at the end of the year when only a select few make the cut for the World Championships.
“Similarly, those who do well in the World Championships eventually make it to the Olympic Games,” Al Hitmi said.
The QGF president said Qatar will be represented by four male athletes - Mahmoud Saadi, Nasser Al Hamad, Malik Al Yahri and Ahmed Dayyani and two female gymnasts - Shaden Wohdan and Al Jazi Al Habshi - at the event.
The Peninsula
