The Qatar Olympic Committee has announced that Anguilla is one of 11 nations set to receive a new eco-friendly running track as part of its ‘Aim Beyond’ project.
Run in partnership with World Athletics and the Qatar Fund For Development, the aim is to empower young people and underserved communities through sport.
The tracks will be distinguished by their inclusivity, accommodating the needs of athletes with disabilities, and by their sustainability, using eco-friendly materials.
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They will also serve as community hubs that aim to promote the values of sporting excellence and strengthen young athletes’ sense of belonging to their communities.
The announcement of the project came following the signing of an agreement by Al Buenain and the Qatar Fund For Development director Fahad Hamad Al-Sulaiti.
It took place on the sidelines of the Doha Forum, a global platform held from 6 to 8 December under the theme ‘Diplomacy, Dialogue and Diversity’.
In a press release, Qatar Olympic Committee secretary general Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said the “ambitious project” aims to ensure every aspiring athlete has access to facilities.
“Just as Doha 2019 allowed Qatar to aim beyond its limits in pursuit of its ultimate dream, so too will this project create opportunities for young athletes to reach their full potential,” he said.
Among the other nations that will receive new tracks are Burundi, Cook Islands, Dominica, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Palestine, Panama, Tajikistan, Tanzania and Ukraine.
Al-Sulaiti said: “By establishing inclusive and sustainable athletics tracks in underserved communities, we are creating pathways for young people to develop their talents, strengthen their capabilities, and realise their full potential.
“This initiative is not merely about constructing facilities, it is about laying the foundations for brighter, more prosperous futures.”
A signing ceremony for the project was held on 8 December and saw attendance from World Athletics CEO Jon Ridgeon who spoke of the benefits of the project.
“In many communities around the world, athletic talent is abundant, but facilities are not – and that’s where Aim Beyond makes its mark,” he said in the press release.
Ridgeon explained that partnerships drive World Athletics’ mission to make athletics accessible and inspiring for all.
“Together, we are strengthening infrastructure for our member federations, opening doors that many young athletes have never been able to walk through.”
In a Facebook post on 8 December, former sports minister Dee-Ann Kentish-Rogers said she was delighted to see the project that was initiated during her tenure finally come to fruition.
“This is what legacy is – not the monuments we build for ourselves, but the foundations we lay so our children may run farther than we ever did,” she said.
