RIGHT: Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) President Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani (left) and Secretary General Majid Al Naimi (right) are seen during their trip to Florence, Italy. LEFT: Sheikh Khalid shakes hands with a Qatari rider.
DOHA: Qatar Cycling Federation (QCF) President Sheikh Khalid bin Ali Al Thani and Secretary General Majid Al Naimi have returned from Florence, Italy, where they attended UCI’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) and held key discussions with numerous officials from Asia and Europe.
Al Naimi said QCF President Sheikh Khalid held discussions pertaining to the 2016 UCI World Road Championships to be held in Qatar.
Several coordination meetings were also held with the organizing committee of the World Cycling Championship to be held this year.
Al Naimi added that QCF officials had also met US organizing team associated with the World Championship to be held in Richmond in 2015.
The QCF official said mutual cooperation between the two parties has been also discussed for future cooperation.
Special discussion was held regarding the 2016 Road World Championship to be held in Doha.
About meetings in Florence, Italy, Al Naimi said: “During our trip to Italy, I met with members of the Board of Directors of Asian Cycling Confederation (ACC). Matters of mutual interests were discussed including the hosting of the Asian Championships in Astana (in 2014). We also witnessed the UCI Presidential elections.”
Britain’s Brian Cookson won a heated vote last Friday to become president of the UCI, defeating incumbent Pat McQuaid. The British Cycling president edged McQuaid 24-18 in a secret ballot.
Al Naimi said QCF President Sheikh Khalid also attended the UCI AGM.
Al Naimi said an ACC candidate was unsuccessful to win membership of the UCI.
Mohammed Balmahi, President of the Moroccan Cycling Federation, along with seven members from Europe, America and nine members of UCI have appointed Dr Wajdi Azzam, Chairman of the African Union and the Egyptian as Vice-President of the UCI.
QCF Secretary General informed that he took part in the voting process to elect the UCI president. “We are now preparing for a busy cycling season that will see Qatari riders taking part in events in Qatar, the region and elsewhere,” Al Naimi said. Al Naimi said Qatari riders spent their summer time in Europe to get ready for the new cycling season. THE PENINSULA
