Qatar Airways has revealed that it is to be the ‘National Airline Partner of the 17th IAAF World Athletics Championships’, following the signing of an agreement with organisers, it was announced today.

 Discussing the airline’s role in the event (which takes place between 27 September and 6 October), Qatar Airways group chief executive, HE Akbar Al Baker, said: “Qatar Airways is delighted to be the National Airline Partner of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.

It is my pleasure to see us support the region’s biggest ever sporting event, especially as this will be the first time the championships are held in the Middle East. At Qatar Airways we believe in the importance of sport as a means of bringing people together. This partnership will serve to further establish our commitment to sports with other events in our home country such as the 2022 FIFA World CupTM.”

Held in the region for the first time, the competition will feature 3,500 elite athletes and officials from 213 countries with an estimated 10,000 international guests, making it the biggest sporting event the Middle East has ever hosted.

“Fans are at the core of any major sporting event”

IAAF vice president and director general of IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, Dahlan Al Hamad, said: “Qatar is blessed with a central location that makes the championships easily accessible to fans from all over the world. The partnership with Qatar Airways will allow more fans to attend the elite athletics event and cheer on their sporting heroes.”

“Fans are at the core of any major sporting event, and thanks to Qatar Airways’ impressive and ever-expanding list of destinations, this partnership means more fans can be part of the IAAF World Athletics Championship Doha 2019,” added Al Hamad.