Arab Games a big success

HH the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the closing ceremony of the 12th Arab Games 2011 yesterday evening. The ceremony was attended among others by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Private Adviser to HH the Emir; HE the Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah

HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani handed over the medals and the Doha skies lit up with fireworks to mark the successful completion of Middle East’s biggest sporting showpiece.

For the hosts, Ali al-Rumaihi provided a fitting finish by winning the individual jumping jump off gold at Al Shaqab on the final day. 

More importantly, Qatar also managed to show their resurgence in sports in the region by putting up their best ever performance in the Arab Games history. They finished fourth on the medals tally with 32 golds, 38 silvers and 40 bronze.

Egypt finished at the top of the medals table with whopping 90 gold medals, 76 silver and 67 bronze. Tunisia held second place with 54 gold, 45 silver and 39 bronze medals, while Morocco settled for the third spot with 35 gold medals, 24 silver and 54 bronze.

However, Tunisian swimming sensation Oussama Mellouli was the highlight of the Games. The 27-year-old ruled the pool for six days and created the biggest splash ever winning an incredible 15 gold medals and one silver. The Olympic and World champion might have come close to making a clean sweep of the 18 medals, had he not been disqualified in the 100m breaststroke and dropped out from the 50m backstroke.

“I’m very happy that these Arab Games set new standards and it has been an opportunity for the Arab people to discover their champions. I am proud to compete for my country and I enjoyed every moment here,” said a beaming Mellouli.

Jordan’s Jalal Odetalah was the star among stars in cue sports that concluded yesterday. He was the only cueist to claim two gold medals, winning in 8-ball singles and 9-ball scotch doubles during competition held at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation.

Tunisia topped the fencing medals table with seven golds to end a dominant week of competition at the Aspire Dome. Led by the Besbes sisters, Azza and Sarra, Tunisia won gold in the women’s individual epee, team epee, individual sabre, team sabre and women’s team foil. The Tunisian men were not as successful, but they still managed to win two gold medals, in the individual and team sabre thanks largely to Iheb Ben Chaabene’s great performance. Morocco finished off the cycling competition in style, winning three gold and two silver medals on the final day of competition at Lusail Cycling Circuit. During the fifth and final day of competition, Morocco’s Adil Jelloul bagged the road race individual gold medal and the team event’s silver to reclaim the lead of the medal tally, ahead of Tunisia and Algeria.

The next Arab Games will be held in 2015 in the Lebanese capital Beirut.

HH the Deputy Emir and Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani patronised  the closing ceremony of the 12th Arab Games 2011 yesterday evening at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium of Al Sadd Club. The ceremony was attended by HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa al-Thani, the Private Adviser to HH the Emir. The ceremony was also attended by HE Deputy Premier and Chairman of the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority Abdullah bin Hamad al-Attiyah, a number of their excellencies Sheikhs, ministers, Arab ambassadors accredited to Qatar, and guests. HH the Heir Apparent attended the final football match between Bahrain and Jordan, which Bahrain won 1-0. Then, HH the Heir Apparent distributed gold medals to the players, the coaching and administrative staff of the Bahraini side, and silver medals to players, the coaching and administrative staff of the Jordan’s team. He also gave bronze medals to the representative of the Kuwaiti team.