Third female Qatari athlete confirmed to compete at London 2012
Doha, Qatar, 8 April 2012: The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is delighted to confirm that a third female Qatari athlete will participate at the forthcoming London 2012 Olympic Games.
19 year oldBahia Al-Hamadhas claimed a place at London 2012 in theWomen’s Air Rifle 10 metresevent after an agreement between the QOC, the International Shooting Sport Federation (ISSF) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). With a number of recent positive performances at international sporting events, Al-Hamad will now be able to take up one of the places at the Games to fulfill the competition quota.
In March 2012, Al-Hamad competed at the 10th Arab Shooting Championships and won a Silver medal in the Women’s Air Rifle 10 metres team event. She was also Qatar’s most successful athlete at the 2011 Arab Games in Doha winning three Gold and two Silver medals.
Bahia Al-Hamad will now join fellow Qatari female athletes, swimmer Nada Mohammed Wafa Arakjiand Noor Al-Malki, a 100 and 200 metre Athletics sprinter, at London 2012 this summer.
Al-Hamad’s presence at the Games is a further example of Qatar’s commitment to developing women’s sport in the country.
The progress in women’s sport in recent years has already produced important sporting results. For example, 32 medals, including eight Gold, were won by female Qatari athletes at the 2011 Arab Games.
QOC General Secretary Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, said today:
"We are absolutely delighted that we have been able to secure another place for one of our young female athletes at London 2012. We are grateful to the IOC for all their support in helping make this happen.
"Women have competed for Qatar in numerous international sporting events previously, such as the past three Asian Games and the inaugural 2010 Youth Olympic Games in Singapore. It is great that our ambition to see female Qatari athletes in the Olympic Games is beginning to be achieved.
"With national sporting initiatives, such as the Qatar Schools Olympic Programme, the QOC is confident that the number of elite women athletes competing for Qatar will grow. We want to see more of our athletes competing and meeting the qualifying standards for international competitions.
"I am very proud that Bahia Al-Hamad will have the opportunity to compete for Qatar at London 2012. Her sporting successes and desire to represent her country and compete on the sporting world’s greatest stage symbolises the progress we are making.
"Athletes like Bahia, Nada and Noor will also provide inspiration to the next generation of female Qatari sportspeople who aspire to become Olympians."
Doha 2020 Bid Committee CEO Noora Al Mannai, added:
"It is wonderful that Bahia will have the chance to compete at London 2012 later this year. Qatar wants to actively help women take up sport and participate in international competitions. With female Qatari athletes competing at the London Games in front of a global audience we can help break down barriers, create new, positive role models and generate more sporting opportunities for women in Qatar and across the region.
"The Doha 2020 bid is all about promoting those opportunities, using the power of sport to help empower women and girls to leave a lasting legacy of female participation across the region."
ENDS
For further information:
Hassan Abdullah Al Mohammadi, Head of Media, Qatar Olympic Committee
Tel:+974 449 44646
VERO Communications: +44 [0]20 7379 4000
Mike Lee: +44 [0] 7775677408
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