QATAR MARINE SPORTS FEDERATION LATEST NEWS
For immediate release
Thhursday, October 6th, 2005
QATAR MARINE SPORTS FEDERATION BEGINS PREPARATIONS
FOR THREE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP RACES IN THREE WEEKS
Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani relishes hectic challenge for QMSF
DOHA (Qatar): The Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF) is piecing together the finishing touches to one of the most hectic sporting schedules ever taken on by a national sporting organisation. The Doha-based operation is to host three World Championship power boat races in as many weekends in November.
The frenetic action will start with the Qatar Grand Prix, round four of
this year’s UIM Class One World Power Boat Championship, on Monday,
November 7th and continue with the fifth event in the seven-race calendar the following Saturday (November 12th).
There will be no respite either. Headed by His Excellency Sheikh Hassan Bin Jabor Al-Thani, the President of the QMSF, the organisation will then host a round of the Formula One Power Boat Championship on Saturday, November 19th, before Sheikh Hassan switches his personal attention to the final two rounds of the UIM Class One series in the United Arab Emirates in December.
~At the QMSF we have been through the experience of organising back-to-back events,~ admitted Sheikh Hassan, who clinched the 2005 UIM European Class One World Power Boat title with throttleman Matteo Nicolini in Norway in August. ~We first did this in 2002, when we hosted the World Championship final for the F2000 and the following weekend was the first Class One event ever held in Doha.
~We felt the pressure and had some difficulties, but we have overcome them and now we have no problems in organising such events with a short time scale between them. We have an excellent team at the QMSF, both in the office and out on the water, so there will no pressure at all.~
Sheikh Hassan is relishing the challenge of organising a round of the
Formula One Championship for the first time. ~Formula One in Doha will be pleasant for everyone here who love very fast boats and we are looking forward to witnessing the spectacle on the Doha Corniche. We must keep our fingers crossed for the weather and water conditions for the race, but hopefully things will go our way and we will have a spectacular event.~
The QMSF will run a similar operation for all three races. The required
facilities are identical and Sheikh Hassan admits that this makes the
logistics of running the operation that much easier.
~Mohammed Al-Jaidha is the key person in our Federation for all the races,~ adds Hassan. ~He is the logistics and operations person and is responsible to have the venue ready for the races and to make sure that nothing is missing. The secretaries at the QMSF play a very important role in responding to the promoters’ requirements and making sure all permissions are in place and received on time. Our PR section is just as important to keep everyone informed about what is going on and all the people who work behind the scenes are crucial to keep things running smoothly.~
Sheikh Hassan admits that the QMSF requires around 60 people to help run the three races. They will each have various roles and responsibilities and the delegation of tasks is assigned to Mohammed Al-Jaidha.
~We have already started the arrangements, have everything setup and we do have a time frame that we are working to. This means that just a few days before the boats arrive in Doha, we should have the venue ready as we planned. Our reputation is at stake and it is important that we run races to the highest standard. We need to maintain our image as an excellent race organiser.~
All teams, officials and members of the media will stay in a selection of hotels for the Class 1 races and Sheikh Hassan has already signed contracts with local hotels for the Formula One race meeting to reserve the required rooms.
~We will have temporary offices for administration for the three races and these will be fully-equipped with internet connection and faxes. We have agreed with a catering service to arrange for food for helpers and
marshals and we will set up a hospitality area for VIPs. It is a very
exciting time for us all,~ added Hassan.
Ends
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