QOC vice president hails the Emir's support for sport

HE Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and President of the Asian Basketball Confederation Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani stressed that HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has established an extensive sport renaissance at all levels. In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA) HE Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani said that we are fortunate in Qatar that HH the Emir and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, who is also President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and the officials in Qatar love sports. This has a big role in Qatar's renaissance at all levels. He added that thanks to HH the Emir's great support for sport, Qatar is experiencing this renaissance which all countries of the world talk about, especially that ten years ago no one imagined that Qatar would become a leading country in sport and at all levels. He also pointed out that Qatar has unlimited aspirations and that officials are convinced with the Qatari capabilities and competencies. HE QOC Vice President said that at the same time, Qatar still dreaming of hosting the Olympics after it failed at winning two previous bids. He expressed satisfaction with winning two bronze medals at the Olympic Games, held recently in London in 2012, pointing out that Qatar has achieved better results than the countries of the region. HE Sheikh Saud stressed that the Olympic Committee had provided all the possibilities of the athletes who participated in London Olympics. Meanwhile, the President of the Asian Basketball Confederation said that the renewed confidence in him by the members of the General Assembly gave him a big confidence, adding that he may not be the best person, but the most diligent, which gave him a chance for the presidency of the Federation for a new period. HE Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and President of the Asian Basketball Confederation (ABC) Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani stressed that the State of Qatar, represented by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and HH the Heir Apparent and President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, supported him in order to reach the ABC President's post, and that without this support he would not be able to reach such a position. HE said that he has a heavy responsibility towards achieving the plans and ambitions of the Asian Basketball Confederation in the coming period. The Vice President of the Olympic Committee made clear that he is keen through his position in the ABC to develop the player, referee and the administrator, pointing out that currently all Asian championships are ruled by Asian referees, unlike the past, where referees were hired from outside the Asian continent. He also revealed that the ABC put a model plan for the development of the Asian basketball unions, and hoped to achieve 70% of it, adding that the Confederation chose 26 countries out of 42 to work on the plan. HE Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Than meanwhile welcomed the idea to move the headquarters of the Asian Basketball Confederation to Doha. HE Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani in his interview with QNA pointed out that women's basketball in Qatar, like the rest of the Arab countries, are still suffering from the customs and traditions which affect its international participations, adding that the ABC seeks to standardize women's clothing in order to participate at the Asian level. He also explained that the women's basketball team has developed considerably over the recent period, especially when it won GCC Basketball Championship, and it was not so bad during its participation in the Arab Championship. The vice president of the Olympic Committee refused some doubts in Qatar's ability to host the 2022 World Cup and said that he respects all points of view, expressing his confidence that Qatar will organize a World Cup that well impress the world as happened in the 2006 Asian Games. Qatar doesn't have any problem in organizing the World Cup 2022 in the summer during the months of June and July, saying that high temperatures is not a crisis, especially that there are a lot of international championships held in the summer such as the recent Olympic Games in Beijing. (MORE) HE Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and President of the Asian Basketball Confederation Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani revealed that he likes all sports, but basketball is his first passion, pointing out that he took over as a president of more than a confederation such as table tennis, basketball and volleyball. HE the Vice President of Qatar Olympic Committee pointed out that he has contributed to the formation of more than a confederation during the run-up period to host the Asian Games "Asiad 2006", noting that he has temporarily headed the presidency of wrestling, boxing and weightlifting Federations. HE Sheikh Saud bin Ali Al Thani considered that the welfare can affect the performance of athlete either positively or negatively, pointing out that providing all the constituents can lead to athlete's laziness in a different atmosphere or difficult circumstances while they may also provide him with effort and good environment to excel. HE the Vice President of Qatar Olympic Committee has chosen HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani as Sports Personality of the Year in Qatar's 2012, stressing that he believes of his abilities and capabilities. He stressed that HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani has efficiencies that are higher than some people realize and that the future will prove that, pointing out that he has an excellent mentality, consistent and good ideas, as well as his modesty and his respect for all. (QNA)