Qatar to host the next FIA general assembly meeting

Anthony Fernandes 15:45 16/06/2014
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  • Upbeat: Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah.

    The general assembly of the FIA, world governing body of motorsport, will for the first time be hosted by Qatar in December later this year.

    Qatar beat other countries including Australia, Mexico and European bidders to host the prestigious annual event this year.

    Apart from the general assembly, the event will also honour the champions of the various FIA championships including Formula One and the World Rally Championship, among others.

    Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation president Nasser Khalifa Al Attiyah, who is also FIA vice-president for sport in charge of the Middle East and Africa region, said of the progress being made in the field of motorsport in the region: “We have implemented some of our plans and strategies in the 20 unions and clubs that fall under our jurisdiction.

    “We are looking to generate more interest in motorsport in the region, especially trying to create awareness in those nations where motorsport is low key.”

    Al Attiyah also confirmed that the next meeting of unions and federations for the region would be held in Kuwait.

    The FIA vice-president for sport revealed that several issues would be taken up at the meeting in Kuwait, at a date yet to be determined.

    Among the issues on the agenda is allocating tasks to each country that comes under the MENA umbrella. Al Attiyah said that the Gulf region has now been divided into three regional groups on a geographical basis aimed at better coordination of motorsport activities in the region.

    The Qatari also disclosed that Oman and Iran will return to the FIA fold and the two countries would organise non-championship rallies this year and would be entitled to championship status from 2015 onwards.

    In order to accommodate the two countries, the Middle East Rally Championship would now consist of eight rounds instead of the six that are currently contested.

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