The event is moved back only a few days: 12-16 October
ANOC today announced the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games will be hosted by the Qatar Olympic Committee. Qatar boasts spectacular oceanfront locations and is ready to provide the perfect setting for NOCs and their athletes to compete in exciting beach, action and water sports.
The Qatar government has provided ANOC with financial guarantees and has a proven track-record in successfully hosting international events, including world championships in swimming, handball, gymnastics and cycling.
In order to prevent disruption to the NOCs and their athletes, the sports programme will remain unchanged and the dates of the Games will be moved back just a few days to 12-16 October. There will also be no impact on the ongoing qualification process which has seen more than 70 NOCs qualify across the 14 sports, with athletes from up to 90 nations ultimately expected to compete.
Qatar will also host the ANOC General Assembly and ANOC Awards, which will now take place immediately after the Games on (17-18 October). NOC delegates attending the ANOC General Assembly will be invited to arrive in Qatar at the start of the Games so that all NOCs will be able to enjoy the inaugural event.
ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg said:
“Work has been continuing to ensure our inaugural ANOC World Beach Games is a universal, elite event, with more world-class athletes from around the world qualifying every week. The Games was conceived with the needs of NOCs and athletes in mind, and ANOC is in no doubt that the decision to relocate the inaugural edition to Qatar makes prudent financial and sporting sense. We are delighted to have established a partnership with the highly experienced team at the Qatar Olympic Committee, backed up with the enthusiastic support of the Qatar government.”
ANOC will be communicating further details about the ANOC World Beach Games, ANOC General Assembly and ANOC Awards in Qatar in due course.
