Doha: An IPC Athletics delegation which visited Qatar is confident that Doha 2015 IPC Athletics World Championships in October will be a successful one after having watched the ‘smoothly and to plan’ test event.

The GCC Para-Athletics Championships held between September 12-14 served as a test event for the Doha 2015 which will also be held in the Qatar Sport Club and will take place from October 21 to 31.

The Local Organising Committee gained valuable experience during the GCC Championships in which they tested the operational readiness and procedures of all functional areas.

“We have been able to witness a lot of functional areas that are going to be in operation during the World Championships and from what we have seen we are sure that the World Championships in a few weeks’ time will be very successful” Ryan Montgomery Head of IPC Athletics said after the test event.

“We came here with a number of questions and those questions were answered fully and successfully and we have left very very happy” he added.

“These World Championships are going to allow the Paralympic Movement to expand into a new region and reach new levels” Montgomery said

The GCC Para-Athletics Championships gave the Doha 2015 Organising Committee an opportunity to test operational procedures and functions in order to ensure they are prepared for the World Championships.

Areas that have been successfully tested include Hamad International Airport’s ability to handle an increased flow of passengers with an impairment across all areas of the airport; accessibility of buses and transport load zones for wheelchair users; and the implementation of structural modifications to the Qatar Sports Club and official Championship hotels which have ensured that they are fully accessible to all.

“All operational tests have gone smoothly and to plan during the GCC Para-Athletics Championships indicating that we are fully prepared to host a World Championships in October that will be organised to the highest possible standards” said Ameer Al Mulla CEO of Doha 2015.

“Furthermore the accessibility modifications and improvements that have been made to venues and facilities across Qatar are a significant legacy that will be left behind long after the World Championships have finished.”

Six countries participated in the GCC Para-Athletics Championships including hosts Qatar the UAE Saudi Arabia Oman Kuwait and Bahrain. Organised by the GCC Organising Committee for Sports of the Disabled the Championships aimed to create new platforms for regional athletes.

“By hosting GCC-wide para-sport events our coaches and technical officials have gained valuable experience that enables them to classify athletes instead of having to send them abroad for classification” said Jassim Hassan Mubarak Secretary-General of the GCC Organising Committee.

At the GCC Para-Athletics Championships Qatar’s Abdelrahman Abdelqader broke the world record in the shot put F34 and Kuwait’s Ahmed al-Mutairi set a new world record in the 100m T33.

The action also saw UAE’s London 2012 Paralympic champion Mohammed al-Hammadi win the 100m and 200m T34 and Saudi Arabia’s London 2012 silver medallist Hani Al Nahkli take gold in the discus T34.

“The GCC Para-Athletics Championships is my last competition before the World Championships and I feel that I am well prepared and in good form” Abdelqader said.