23 Jul Qatar to replace San Diego as hosts | 2019 ANOC World Beach Games
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.
Relocation
ANOC announced earlier this month that it had decided to relocate the ANOC World Beach Games from San Deigo to a new host city to ensure it provides the best possible environment for NOCs and their athletes. The decision was taken following discussions with the San Diego Organising Committee where it was made clear that San Diego would not be able to generate the necessary revenue locally to host an event to the standards required.
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 12th – 16th October 2019. 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 (17th – 18th October 2019). 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.
Universal 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 in due course.
Wakeboard and wateski jump are the two medal disciplines included in the 2019 ANOC World Beach Games sports programme.
The IWWF organised World Cup stops in in Doha in 2004 (slalom, trick, jump & wakeboard), 2006 (trick & wakeboard), 2007 (wakeboard) and 2008 (slalom, trick & wakeboard) and also an IWWF World Wakeboard Championships in 2007.
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About the IWWF
The International Waterski & Wakeboard Federation (IWWF) is the world governing body for towed water sports and has 90+ affiliated Federations worldwide. It was founded in 1946 in Geneva, Switzerland. It is recognized by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as the sole authority for towed watersports. The IWWF is an affiliate member of the Association of IOC Recognized International Sports Federation (ARISF) and the Global Association of International Sports Federations (GAISF). The IWWF’s sports disciplines include, amongst others, Waterskiing (slalom, tricks & jump), Wakeboard, Cable Wakeboard, Cable Waterskiing, Disabled Waterskiing, Show Skiing, Ski Racing, Barefoot Waterskiing & Wakesurfing.