The IAAF Council announced today Doha has won the bid to host the 17th 2019 IAAF World Championships.
Doha, the capital city of Qatar, won the vote of Council over Eugene (“Tracktown”, USA) and Barcelona. The results of the first round of voting were: Doha 12, Eugene 9 and Barcelona 6. Barcelona was then eliminated from the second voting round. The results of the second round were: Doha 15 and Eugene 12.
The president of the IAAF, Lamine Diack stated “I am sure that in Doha we will have a wonderful edition of the World Championships. I am convinced they are committed through sport to developing their country and their community, and they are doing the right things.”
The President also offered thanks to all three candidates of the bid, adding that they were “the best presentations we have ever had.”
The leader of the Doha bid, Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said “it is a privelidge and an honour to have the trust of the IAAF. I am very delighted that these championships are going to be for the first time in the region. I’m confident that with the support of the IAAF we will organise one of the best World Championships.”
Arguably the most famous Qatari athlete and High Jump World Champion Mutaz Barshim, who was also a member of the Doha 2019 Athletics Committee, made a speech at the announcement today in Monaco.
The Qatari Athletics Federation President and IAAF Council member, Dahlan Al Hamad added “This is a great moment for me as the president of the Qatari Athletics Federation, and as a Qatari. We have dreamed about organising such an event for a long time and, on behalf of the Qatari athletics final, we would like to thank the IAAF Council and IAAF Family for giving Qatar the chance to host one of the most prestigious championships.”
He also added that since hosting the World Indoor Championships, the Qatari Athletics Federation have worked hand in hand with the IAAF to optimise their globalisation philosophy.
The 2015 IAAF World Championships will be held in Beijing from 22nd – 30th August, and the 2017 will be hosted by London. Additionally, the IAAF announced today that the 2018 Continental Cup will be held in Ostrava.
