Qatar 2019 – Dr Moustafa: "A very good job"
18 Oct. 2019
IHF President Dr Hassan Moustafa attended the finals day of the ANOC World Beach Games – Qatar 2019 and spoke to IHF.info about what the event means for beach handball on the global stage.
IHF.info: This is the debut edition of the ANOC World Beach Games and beach handball has featured with both the men’s and women’s competitions attracting lots of fans at both the Al-Gharafa Beach Handball Arena and here at Katara Beach, you must be very proud to see this?
Dr Hassan Moustafa: I am very happy to be here in Qatar and also very happy that the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) accepted to put beach handball in this debut edition of the ANOC World Beach Games.
I also have to give my gratitude to the organisers of these ANOC World Beach Games as well as all my gratitude and thanks to the teams, trainers and referees; they all did a very good job.
I would also like to give my thanks and gratitude especially to the IHF Beach Handball Working Group; they did a very good job for us and I hope that it will continue. I hope the International Olympic Committee can help us to put beach handball into the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.
IHF.info: How important is it that all six IHF continental champions were here – Africa, Asia, Europe, Oceania, North America and the Caribbean and South and Central America?
Dr Hassan Moustafa: This is the main thing about how we can promote our sport. We are very strong not only in Europe, but for beach handball at these ANOC World Beach Games we have all the continents taking part. I am sure in the future, smaller countries can do well at the next Beach Games.
IHF.info: What is your overall impression of beach handball at this first edition of the ANOC World Beach Games?
Dr Hassan Moustafa: I am very happy and satisfied with the results, with the spectators, with everything in the first ANOC World Beach Games.
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