Doha, Qatar, September 30, 2019: The Secretary General of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), Gunilla Lindberg, has praised the “fantastic” work of the Qatari organisers ahead of the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games in Doha next month.
Addressing members of the Olympic Council of Asia Executive Board in Doha on September 28, the ANOC Secretary General said that Doha was “99 per cent” ready to welcome 1,200 athletes for the AWBG from October 12-16.
“We are really excited to host the ANOC World Beach Games here in Doha in two weeks’ time,” she said.
“It was given to San Diego in 2015 but this spring they had no money and no sponsors and we had to move the event. Doha stepped in at the end of June and they had three months to prepare. They have done a fantastic job and it is 99 per cent perfect.”
Of the 206 member NOCs in ANOC, 98 from all five continents will be represented in the 14 disciplines of 13 sports in Doha.
The ANOC General Assembly and annual ANOC Awards will be held on October 17-18 and all 206 NOCs will be present for this.
“I want to thank the Asian NOCs for their cooperation,” she added. “It has been quite a challenge with such a short time to prepare. We are almost ready and still have time to complete the preparations.”
The ANOC Commissions and Working Groups will meet from October 10, two days before the AWBG opening ceremony, and the ANOC Executive Council will gather on October 15 – the day before the last day of competition and closing ceremony.
Finals of the basketball 3x3, beach handball, beach soccer and beach volleyball 4x4 are among the finals to be contested on Wednesday, October 16, along with kitefoil racing and beach tennis.
The action gets underway on Friday, October 11 with group matches in beach handball and beach soccer.
