Qatar Olympic Committee Marks 45 Years of Success
Since its establishment in 1979 the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has played a pivotal role in advancing the Olympic Movement. Suleiman's victory in the 1,500 meters at Barcelona '92 marked the committee first medal win, initiating a legacy of success. Qatar renowned for hosting global events, will make history as the first Arab nation to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
Over nearly five decades the QOC has adhered to the Olympic Charter's principles while fostering the growth of sports. Notably, Qatar boasts eight Olympic medals, including two gold, two silver and four bronze. Mohamed Suleiman clinched Qatar's maiden Olympic medal a bronze in the 1,500 meters at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, where he competed against Spanish athlete FermÃn Cacho.
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) continued its medal-winning streak with Asaad Saeed Saif securing a bronze in the 105kg weightlifting category at the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney. This was just the beginning, as Mutaz Barshim claimed a silver in the men's high jump and Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah earned a bronze in the men's trap shooting at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London.
In Rio 2016, Mutaz Barshim continued his success with another silver in high jump, setting the stage for Qatar's impressive performance at the recent Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games. Qatar soared to the top of the Arab rankings with Mutaz Barshim and weightlifter Fares Ibrahim clinching two gold medals, while the beach volleyball team secured bronze.
Beyond the Olympics, Qatari teams have shined on the global stage, organizing and excelling in major sporting events. This aligns perfectly with the Qatar Olympic Committee's vision: "To be a leading nation in uniting the world through sustainable sports development."
Among Qatar's notable accomplishments is the successful hosting of the 1995 FIFA U-20 World Cup, managed efficiently despite short notice. Qatar made history as the first Arab nation to host the Asian Games in 2006 and broke new ground by hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
In 2015, at the Men's Handball World Championship, Qatar's team came second, making history as the first Asian and Arab team to reach the podium. Besides football and handball, Qatar has also hosted major events like the 2010 World Indoor Athletics Championships, the 2015 World Boxing Championships, the 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships, and the 2019 Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) With 45 years of experience, Qatar is now looking ahead to 2030 with a goal of achieving sporting excellence. Founded on March 14, 1979, the Qatar Olympic Committee became a member of the International Olympic Committee in 1980, the Olympic Council of Asia in 1981, and the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees in 1982.
The committee has seen several presidents over the years, including Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Sheikh Mohammed bin Fahad Al-Thani, Sheikh Saud bin Khalid Al-Thani, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, and the current Chairman, Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani.
