Qatar National Bank signs four-year partnership with athletics’ world governing body
Doha-based Qatar National Bank (QNB), which is arguably the biggest financial institution anywhere in the Middle East ad Africa, has forged a four-year partnership with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Both the IAAF and QNB confirmed the development first in a tweet from their official handles.
IAAF and QNB announce new partnership. More: https://t.co/ZkhMOJbLbs pic.twitter.com/2SNvKnU19t
— IAAF (@iaaforg) July 27, 2018
#QNB official partner of IAAF World Athletic Series. https://t.co/sZZPB1fh4y #QNBGroup pic.twitter.com/obMDafZ3oo
— QNB Group (@QNBGroup) July 28, 2018
The four-year deal will see QNB become one of the IAAF’s official partners and will be involved in all their World Athletics Series events — including the eagerly awaited 2019 IAAF World Championships in Doha and the annual Diamond League series, according to a statement in the IAAF’s website.
According to the contract, QNB will roll out a school engagement programme in Qatar. It will be aimed at inspiring young biys to lead healthier lifestyles and also to focus on taking up athletics as a serious sport, reported Gulf Times.
Qatar National Bank (QNB) announced a four-year partnership agreement with the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) which will be involved in all IAAF World Athletic Series events, including the IAAF World Athletics Championships 2019 in Doha.
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) July 28, 2018
“As the world’s No.1 sport, bringing the emotion and excitement of athletics to new communities has always been a key target of the IAAF. And that’s why this announcement is very exciting,” IAAF President Lord Sebastian Coe was quoted as saying by The Peninsula.
“The partnership with QNB will help us explore creative ways to make our ambitions a reality, by enhancing our sport at a local, regional and global level,” he added.
Qatar has always enjoyed a close bond with track and field. A lion’s share of the country’s world class medals have come from athletics and it has been hosting international event s for more than two decades.