Politics, illegal blockade not to impact Doha 2019 Athletics Championships, says Coe
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) President Lord Sebastian Coe has thrown his weight behind the 2019 IAAF World Championships, which will be held at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Coe roundly dismissed concerns about countries potentially boycotting the biennial competition over simmering political tensions in the Gulf region, according to Gulf Times.
IAAF president ruled out that the siege imposed on the State of Qatar would lead to a boycott of the World Championship scheduled for September 28, 2019 in Doha, expressing confidence in the participation of all national federations in the tournament.
— Qatar News Agency (@QNAEnglish) August 26, 2018
On June 5, 2017, four neighbouring Arab countries — Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the UAE — cut diplomatic ties with Qatar and imposed a land, sea and air blockade.
Coe expressed confidence that all national federations would send their athletes for the competition beginning on September 28, 2019.
“I want every federation to be there. I see no reason why they shouldn’t. Political fragilities from time to time emerge in all systems,” Coe was quoted as saying by The Peninsula.
“It’s very important that international sport maintains its primacy. Picking your partnerships around politics can be a pretty transient process if you’re not careful. I’m confident that we’ll have a full house in Qatar,” he said, on the sidelines of the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, Indonesia.
