NOCs Exchange Views with World Beach Games Chiefs

(ATR) Games organizers say they may adapt plans for the inaugural event following feedback from 80 NOCs at a chef de mission seminar in Doha.

ANOC secretary general Gunilla Lindberg hailed the two-day meeting as "very productive as we delivered presentations across all Games operational areas and welcomed the opportunity to answer any questions the chef de missions have.

"The chef de mission seminar is critical not just in allowing us to update the NOCs but also in allowing us to hear their feedback and adapt our plans as needed to ensure the very best environment for them and their athletes," she said.

"We have a busy three months ahead and speaking with the NOCs it is clear how much excitement there is for these Games."

The three-day seminar concluded Wednesday with a series of briefings on Games services including accommodation, transport, security, anti-doping, ticketing and ceremonies.

Delegates on Tuesday received updates on the proposed venue master plan, which remains subject to adjustments pending feedback from the international federations, and the Athletes’ Village.

The chef de missions toured the Village, which will be located in the Ezdan Hotel, and saw the proposed Games sites when they visited Katara Beach and the Gharafa Beach Sports Complex.

So far, 84 NOCs from all five continents have qualified for the inaugural Games. The final number of NOCs qualified is expected to exceed 100.

The chef de missions gathering follows the IF technical delegate meeting last week, when representatives from the 14 sports of the Games met in the Qatari capital to help finetune preparations for the Oct. 12-16 Games.

Around 1400 competitors from 70 nations will participate in the 16 sports disciplines on the program.

Reported by Mark Bisson

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