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Qatar’s credentials as a global sporting event host have been boosted by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announcement that the 2019 World Athletics Championships will be held in its capital Doha.

The Qatari bid, frontrunner since losing to London for the 2017 event, beat bids from rival cities Eugene, Oregon, USA and the Spanish city of Barcelona in voting by the IAAF Council in Monaco on Tuesday (18th November).

With the Middle East will stage the event for the first time, IAAF President Lamine Diack stated "I am sure that in Doha we will have a wonderful edition of the World Championships. I am convinced they are committed through sport to developing their country and their community, and they are doing the right things.”

Diack also offered his thanks to all three candidates, stating “they were the best presentations we have ever had."

Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, President of the Qatari Athletics Federation and Doha’s bid leader stated "it's a privilege and honour to have the trust of the IAAF, … I'm confident that with the support of the IAAF we will organise one of the best World Championships.

"We have always delivered what we have promised, such as in 2010 when we had the World Indoor Championships. Since that time we have committed to working hand in hand with the IAAF to optimise their globalisation philosophy.

“We will raise the bar to create a legacy (as) "we have always delivered what we have promised, such as in 2010 when we had the World Indoor Championships.

“Since that time we have committed to working hand in hand with the IAAF to optimise their globalisation philosophy."

However, immediately following the announcement of the hosting of the 2019 event, concerns were expressed that Qatar, which is embroiled in controversy over the award of the FIFA 2022 World Cup, has been rewarded with another global event despite its ill-treatment of migrant workers, hundreds of whom have died while building sporting facilities.

Athletes have also expressed concerns at the high temperatures likely to be experienced during the event – which is scheduled for October 2019.

The 2015 edition of the IAAF World Athletics Championships is being in Beijing, China from 22nd to 30th August next year, followed in 2017 by London from 5th to 13th August of that year.

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