‘Qatar Gymnastics has also shown efforts to promote sports participation’

The International Gymnastics Federation’s newly-elected President Morinari Watanabe is confident Qatar will host a successful FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championship in October 2018.
Two years ago, Doha won the right to hold the 48th edition of the marquee event in 2018, with Qatar Gymnastics Federation (QGF) being the only bidder. Watanabe sees the event as an opportunity to promote gymnastics to a wider audience and believes QGF is capable of doing that in the Middle East.
“QGF has organised several World Cups in the past with a great success. There is no doubt that they are now ready to host a World Championships. It will be one of the best,” the Japanese said.
“As the pioneer for several gymnastics disciplines in the Gulf region, Qatar Gymnastics has also shown efforts to promote sports participation in the country,” he added.
Since its creation in 2000, the Qatar Gymnastics Federation – which became affiliated with the FIG in 2002 – has developed quickly and already has athletes competing at international events. It’s president Ali al-Hitmi sits in the FIG’s ruling Executive Committee and is one of the prominent members of the organisation.
The 57-year-old Watanabe was in Doha last week with retiring Bruno Grandi, head of the FIG since 1996, who will make way for the Japanese on January 1. Both the officials praised the role played by al-Hitmi in promoting gymnastics in the region.
The preparations for the World Championship is already in place. A delegation from the QGF headed by al-Hitmi attended the governing body’s Congress in Tokyo in October and made a presentation on the preparations.
Al-Hitmi said there will be more co-ordination between QGF, FIG and other national associations over the coming months, which he added will improve the organisational capacity.
The 82-year-old Grandi said he was proud of his 20-year tenure as the president of the FIG. He listed several achievements that he made. “When I came in, it was only Russia and Romania who were dominating the sport. But I took the sport to other countries and promoted them,” he said.
The Italian as President also oversaw a number of sweeping changes to the world of gymnastics – including scrapping the perfect 10 score and helping to elevate the sport into the top tier at the Olympic Games.