QATAR set to become world’s largest exporter of urea with construction of new complex

Al-Kaabi also announced that QatarEnergy will more than double the local solar energy production by adding new power plants in Dukhan, to become “one of the largest” of their kind in the world. 

QatarEnergy is set to become the world’s largest exporter of urea by building a new production complex, a move that is set to ramp up production from a current six MTPA (million tonnes per annum) to 12.4 MTPA by 2030, marking a 106 percent spike.

QatarEnergy’s President and CEO Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi announced the mega project in a press conference on Sunday at the Qatari company’s headquarters in Doha. 

In response to the press, Al-Kaabi said the new facility will more than double Qatar’s urea, or fertilizer, production while supporting global food production and security. He noted that the production from the project’s first urea train is expected before the end of this decade.

“When we look at the future market of urea with the growth of humanity[…]the urea requirement for food production will be exponentially increased,” Al-Kaabi told the press.

QatarEnergy announces world’s largest blue ammonia plant 

The expansion process will take place by building three ammonia production lines that will in turn provide feedstock to four new mega urea production trains in Mesaieed Industrial City. 

The announcement also came against the backdrop of Qatar’s growing ammonia and urea production over the past 50 years.

In 2022, QatarEnergy Renewable Solutions and the Qatar Fertilizer Company (QAFCO), inked a major agreement over the development of the Blue Ammonia project, the largest of its kind in the world, in Mesaieed Industrial City.

Production is expected to commence in the first quarter of 2026.

Qatar to more than double solar power production

Al-Kaabi also announced that QatarEnergy will more than double the local solar energy production by adding new power plants in Dukhan, which will become “one of the largest” of their kind in the world. 

The new plant will have a production capacity of 2,000 megawatts, doubling Qatar’s solar power production capacity from existing projects and those still under construction. Some of the projects include the Al-Kharsaah solar power plant, inaugurated in 2022 with the capacity of 800 megawatts.

QatarEnergy, KPC sign 15-year agreement for LNG supply to Kuwait

Others include two solar power plants under construction in Ras Laffan and Mesaieed with a total production capacity of 875 megawatts. According to Al-Kaabi, the production will commence before the end of this year.

“By adding the Dukhan solar power plant to these three plants, we will achieve our Sustainability Strategy objective of about 4,000 megawatts of electricity from solar power by 2030, which makes up 30 percent of Qatar’s total electric power production,” he explained.

Al-Kaabi described the latest announcement as a “continuation” of Qatar’s efforts to provide the world with energy products and meet global needs.

“QatarEnergy’s specialised technical teams will immediately begin the necessary detailed engineering studies to implement these mega projects in accordance with the highest safety, health and environmental standards,” Al-Kaabi said.

source/contents: dohanews.co (headline edited)

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QATAR: Msheireb Downtown Doha wins Guinness World Records title™ for ‘Largest Underground Car Park” in the world

Msheireb Downtown Doha, Qatar’s pioneering sustainable and smart city district, has clinched the Guinness World Records™ title for the “Largest Underground Car Park” with a capacity of 10,017 spaces. The Guinness World Records™ recognition highlights the creative thinking that went into designing Msheireb Downtown Doha to create a sustainable urban district that sets a new benchmark for future smart city projects globally.

Msheireb Downtown Doha was designed for the human scale, which starts from the ground up. Locating car parking and building services underground has allowed the district to keep streets traffic-lite, enabling narrow, pedestrian-friendly walkways. This design improves connectivity across the wider city area, extending underground basements throughout the entire district.

“We wanted to reclaim outdoor spaces for the community by removing vehicles from the streets around Msheireb,” said Msheireb Properties CEO Eng. Ali Al Kuwari. “The Guinness World Records™ for the Largest Underground Car Park is a testament to our dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative city district that prioritizes the well-being of our community. By locating car parking and building services underground, we enabled architects to design attractive buildings with active façades on all sides.”

With an impressive capacity of 10,017 vehicles spread across six levels, Msheireb Downtown Doha’s underground parking system ensures ample space for residents, tenants, and visitors. The cutting-edge facility boasts an intelligent parking system that guides drivers to available spaces, making the parking experience seamless and hassle-free.

The underground parking system also had a significant impact on building design by removing the need for back service entrances which improved street quality and aesthetic cohesion.

As the flagship project of Msheireb Properties, Msheireb Downtown Doha has been designed to revive the historical downtown area with a new architectural language that is modern yet inspired by traditional Qatari heritage. The district incorporates the latest smart city technology and sustainability features, making it a model for future urban development’s worldwide.

Raafat Tawfik, Guinness World Records™ Official Adjudicator, commented, “We are thrilled to recognize Msheireb Downtown Doha for its outstanding achievement in creating the Largest Underground Car Park. This feat showcases the district’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and enhancing the urban living experience.”

Msheireb Downtown Doha’s underground parking is just one of the many features that make the district a unique and attractive destination. With its pedestrian-friendly streets, diverse mix of residential, commercial, and retail offerings, and cultural attractions such as the Msheireb Museums, the district has become one of Qatar’s go-to destinations for residents and visitors alike.

Source and cover image credit: Press release

source/content: iloveqatar.net (headline edited)

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QATAR: Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD) in Guinness World Records for ‘Largest Underground Car Park’

Msheireb Downtown Doha (MDD), Qatar’s pioneering sustainable and smart city district, has clinched the Guinness World Records title for the ‘Largest Underground Car Park’ with capacity of 10,017 spaces across six levels.

Locating car parking and building services underground has allowed the district to keep streets traffic-lite, enabling narrow, pedestrian-friendly walkways. This design improves connectivity across the wider city area, with underground basements extending over the entire district.

“We wanted to reclaim outdoor spaces for the community by removing vehicles from the streets around Msheireb,” said Msheireb Properties CEO engineer Ali al-Kuwari.

“The Guinness World Records for the Largest Underground Car Park is a testament to our dedication to creating a sustainable and innovative city district that prioritises the well-being of our community. By locating car parking and building services underground, we enabled architects to design attractive buildings with active façades on all sides.”

The MDD’s underground parking system ensures ample space for residents, tenants, and visitors. The facility boasts an intelligent parking system that guides drivers to available spaces, making the parking experience seamless and hassle-free.

The underground parking system also had a significant impact on building design by removing the need for back service entrances which improved street quality and aesthetic cohesion.

As the flagship project of Msheireb Properties, MDD has been designed to revive the historical downtown area with a new architectural language that is modern yet inspired by traditional Qatari heritage. The district incorporates the latest smart city technology and sustainability features, making it a model for future urban development’s worldwide.

Raafat Tawfik, Guinness World Records Official Adjudicator, said: “We are thrilled to recognise MDD for its outstanding achievement in creating the Largest Underground Car Park. This feat showcases the district’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and enhancing the urban living experience.”

MDD’s underground parking is just one of the many features that make the district a unique and attractive destination. With its pedestrian-friendly streets, diverse mix of residential, commercial, and retail offerings, and cultural attractions such as the Msheireb Museums, the district has become one of Qatar’s go-to destinations for residents and visitors alike, a statement added.

source/content: gulf-times.com (headline edited)

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QATAR : Doha’s Umm Al Seneem Park Opens the World’s Largest Air-Conditioned Jogging Tracks

Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie yesterday inaugurated Umm Al Seneem Park, with the largest air-conditioned jogging tracks in the world,  in  Umm Al Seneem, Al Rayan Municipality, breaking Guinness World Records.

The 1,143-metre-long air-conditioned jogging tracks received the title of Guinness World Records for the ‘longest air-conditioned outdoor path’ on October 17, 2022.

The jogging tracks, ensuring temperatures about 26 degree Celsius aim at encouraging visitors for exercise in a bid to make them fit and healthy. 

Speaking to the media, Minister of Municipality said that Umm Al Seneem Park spreads over an area over 130,000sqm is part of an initiative of the Ministry to improve the quality of life by increasing green spaces in Qatar.

“We have increased the green spaces in the country over 10 times, compared to those in 2010 by building parks, landscaping and green areas,” said the Minister.  He said that public parks are equipped with fitness machines, children play areas and joggers trackers, including some of them air-conditioned for the comport of visitors.

“The parks have been built following sustainability goals to cut the carbon footprint and provide fresh air to visitors,” said the Minister, adding that the efforts will continue to open more new parks in near future. 

Speaking to The Peninsula, Director of Public Parks Department, Muhammad Ali Al Khouri said that the jogging tracks of Umm Al Seneem Park has been registered in the Guinness World Records and an official certificate for the title of the record was issued by the officials about a week ago. 

The Umm Al Seneem Park was developed by the Public Works Authority (Ahghal) in coordination with the Ministry of Municipality.

The park, stretching over an area of 130,105sqm, can accommodate about 6,000 visitors per day. The green spaces of the park covers 68 percent of total areas, 88,400sqm dotted with 912 trees of 18 types, including 75 local trees and 820sqm long green walls. The park includes many important facilities, including the outdoor air-conditioned jogging-track for running and walking with a length of 1,143 metres, which is in a circular shape around the park.

The cycling track is 1,135 meters long. There are three areas for exercises, a fitness box that allows visitors to exercise through a screen that displays a trainer teaching exercises. The park also has two children’s play areas, one for the age group 2 to 5, and the other for 6 to 12 years, with games dedicated to children with special needs.

There are seven service kiosks, including six for food and beverages, one kiosk for renting bicycles and bicycle parking, besides providing garden furniture, locally manufactured benches from Fiber Concrete (GRC) and Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP).

Energy-saving lighting poles haven installed. There are parking spaces for people with special needs, in addition to seven water fountains, prayer rooms, and bathrooms.

The eco-friendly air-conditioning system of jogging tracks relies on generating 60% of the electricity required to operate the air conditioners with solar panels, reducing electricity consumption while maintaining temperatures up to 26 degrees Celsius.

Director of Public Parks Department Muhammad Ali Al Khouri said that the number of public parks in Qatar increased from 56 in 2010 to 143 in 2022, recording 164% growth.

He said that green spaces jumped from 2,614,994sqm in 2010 to 43,861,133sqm in 2022, taking per capita share of green space from 1sqm in 2010 to 16.2sqm in 2022, recording 16-fold growth. “The total number of trees that have been planted across the country under ‘Plant Million Tree’ initiative has reached 1,193,665, surpassing the target, which is equivalent to 15,517,645sqm green areas,” said Al Khouri.

Eng Mohammad Arqoub Al Khaldi, Chairman of the Supervisory Committee of Beautification of Roads and Public Places in Qatar said Umm Al Seneem is an added value for achieving the environmental sustainability strategy, and enabling citizens and residents to adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Director of Building Affairs Department at Ashghal, Eng Jarallah Al Marri said that the park is eco-friendly as its air-conditioning system is powered by solar energy.

source/content: thepeninsulaqatar.com (headline edited)

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The Minister of Municipality of Municipality H E Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, with other officials at the Longest AC Outdoor Path Guinness Record park at Umm Al Saneem. Picture by Salim Matramkot/The Peninsula

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QATAR: 3D Printed – Longest Independent Concrete Structure Built using 3D Printing Technology enters Guinness World Records

The pavilion of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) TASMU (SMART Qatar) recorded the longest independent concrete structure built using 3D printing technology.

According to the Qatari News Agency (QNA), the pavilion of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) TASMU (SMART Qatar) has entered the Guinness World Records Book as the longest independent concrete structure built using 3D printing technology.

On this occasion, HE Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mohammed bin Ali bin Mohammed Al Mannai stated that the Guinness World Record is not only a symbol of innovation and achievement, but also a testimony to the State of Qatar’s commitment to transcending all boundaries in the field of technology – promoting fruitful cooperation and providing innovations that improve peoples lives. The MCIT pavilion is tangible evidence of the technological progress witnessed by the State of Qatar, where traditional values are in harmony with advanced technology to meet global challenges.

The Ministry’s pavilion was built on an area of 170 square meters with a height of 12.4 meters, and was designed in the form of a tower consisting of ten levels with seven bricks in each row. It was built from 75 individually 3D printed pieces, as “an ideal example of fruitful cooperation between different talents and experiences, and a living example of transforming ambitious visions into tangible reality,” according to the QNA.

MCIT is actively contributing to Expo 2023 Doha as an event that is in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and focuses on sustainability and innovation. The Ministry’s pavilion represents its commitment to providing technology-based solutions and enhancing efforts made in support of sustainability endeavors that are in the interest of residents, citizens, companies, and visitors in the State of Qatar.

Recently, Qatari students – Mohammad Fadhel Annan and Lujain Al Mansoori – were awarded 25,000 QAR from a Qatar Development Bank (QDB) competition for their 3D printed vegetable development, in which they used a custom-made 3D printer and a combination of artificially grown vegetable cells and UV-sensitive 3D printer ink.

source/content: voxelmatters.com

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Source: Qatari News Agency (QNA).

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QATAR: A World Cup 12 years in the making. The First FIFA World Cup to take place in the Arab World. Kickoff Today, Sunday November 20th, 2022

With the biggest show in football 24 hours away, Arab News takes a look at the 12-year journey to make Qatar 2022 happen.

The first FIFA World Cup to take place in the Arab world will kick off Sunday in Doha when the host nation take on Ecuador in the tournament’s opening match at Al-Bayt Stadium.

The journey from winning the nomination on Dec. 2, 2010 to the big kick off on Nov. 20, 2022 has not been without challenges and controversies, but for the teams and fans who have landed in Qatar, and for millions around the world, the moment of truth has arrived.

As in Russia four years ago, there will be four Arab nations taking part in the tournament. This time around they are Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Tunisia.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia are among a record six Asian Football Confederation members taking part, along with Japan, South Korea, Iran and Australia.

Of the Arab nations, Qatar have an immediate chance to get three points on the board against Ecuador — arguably the easiest of their three matches in group A, which also includes the Netherlands and Senegal.

A win would leave the Asian champions requiring perhaps just a single point from their two other matches to become only the fourth Arab nation — after Morocco (1986), Saudi Arabia (1994), and Algeria (2014) — to reach the knockout stages of a World Cup.

Saudi Arabia have the toughest start of the Arab nations, taking on Argentina in their Group C opener, before facing Poland and Mexico in two matches that are only marginally less difficult.

A strong Morocco squad will have high hopes of causing an upset in Group F against Belgium Canada and Croatia, while Tunisia were dealt a tough hand when placed with champions France, Denmark and Canada in Group D.

While the Arab teams might struggle to progress beyond the group stages, it is a mission they should embrace. Players like Qatar’s Akram Afifi and Almoez Ali, Saudi’s Salem Al-Dawsari, and Tunisia’s Hannibal Mejbri could introduce themselves to a whole new audience.

Others, like Seville keeper Yasssine Bounou, and his Moroccan colleagues Achraf Hakimi of PSG and Hakim Ziyech of Chelsea are already familiar to audiences worldwide.

Standout matches for the Arab contingent will be Qatar’s showdown with the Netherlands on Nov. 29; Saudi’s second Group C fixture against Poland, which could provide their best chance of an upset; Tunisia’s clash with champions France; and Morocco’s final Group F match against Canada, potentially a match in which they could seal their progress to the round of 16 if they already have points on the board.

Elsewhere, there will be titanic clashes (Spain vs. Germany), international “derbies” (England vs. Wales), politically charged matches (Iran vs. USA) and revenge missions (Ghana vs. Uruguay)

Among the favorites for the trophy will be France and Brazil, both of whom have named fearsome squads, as well as Euro 2020 finalists England and South American champions Argentina.

The latter have become many people’s sentimental favorites, with a swell of emotion building behind Lionel Messi’s bid to end a glorious career with the trophy he craves the most.

Win it on Dec. 18, in what would be the Argentine maestro’s 1000th professional game, and the title of greatest footballer of all time will no longer be debated.

Messi’s rival for the title of greatest player of his generation, Cristiano Ronaldo, will also be playing in what is surely his last World Cup. And while things have not gone smoothly for the Portugal captain at Manchester United this season, his army of fans will no doubt be watching to see if he can pull one last rabbit out of the hat.

With Messi and Ronaldo walking into the sunset at the end of Qatar 2022, the position of world’s best player is up for grabs. The contender most likely to fill the void is Kylian Mbappe.

Already a world champion, the Frenchman has long been many people’s choice as the world’s “next” best player, and though he has continued to excel for club and country, the fact that he has remained at Paris Saint-Germain and, crucially, failed to land the coveted Champions League for them, means the jury is still out.

And then there is Neymar. This World Cup could well be the final chance for the Brazilian teammate of Messi and Mbappe at PSG to prove that he belongs among the greats after two World Cups plagued by injuries and underwhelming performances. 

Other veterans including Ballon d’Or winner Karim Benzema, Uruguay’s Luis Suarez, Poland’s Robert Lewandowski and Croatia’s Luka Modric will also have the chance to bid their fans a fond farewell at the highest level.

Among a new generation of players to watch in Qatar are the likes of Brazil’s Vinicius Jr, Raphinha and Bruno Guimaraes; France’s Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni; Uruguay’s Darwin Nunez; Germany’s Jamal Musiala; and the brilliant 19-year-old Spaniard Pedri.

The stage is set, the curtain rises on Sunday night.

source/content: arabnews.com (headline edited)

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The first FIFA World Cup to take place in the Arab world will kick off Sunday in Doha when the host nation take on Ecuador in the tournament’s opening match. (Reuters/File Photo)

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QATAR: Qatar Foundation’s ‘Showtime!’ wins Two Awards at Cannes Film Festival

The film’s soundtrack was provided by the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, a member of Qatar Foundation.

Qatar Foundation’s musical theatre film ‘Showtime!’ won two awards at the Cannes International Film Festival in the categories of social media and short films.

‘Showtime!’ also won an award from Ofcom in London in the categories of cinematography, sound, and directing as well as a prize at the New York Festival for short films.

Established by Qatar Foundation, the initiative is rooted in the very fact that there is a vacuum in drama and musical programmes in Qatar Foundation schools. This prompted Qatar Foundation to embark on a musical theatre teaching process for students of all ages across Qatar.

The purpose of the show is to promote creativity in the field of performing arts and cultivate a culture of theatrical and musical performances in pre-university schools in the foundation.

Within a year, the project was ready to be showcased before the world, however, the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic hampered its smooth execution.

Qatar Foundation along with the help of The Edge Picture Company, took the stage to streets and filmed choreographed musical performances and successfully broadcasted it online.

The musical elements were led by West End choreographer Christopher Piper, and father and daughter team Steve Griffith as musical director, Jane Griffith as choreographer along with international Film Director Andrew Lancaster.

The creative team was led by 20 crew members and a cast of 55, occupied entirely by Qatar Foundation school staff and pupils with ages ranging from seven to 55 years old. It was considered the first musical theatre experience for many of the cast members.

Some of the locations utilised for the filming process included Qatar National Convention Centre, Qatar Science and Technology Park, Ceremonial Court, Oxygen Park, and Qatar National Library in Education City.

Other acknowledgements

The Doha Film Institute (DFI)-granted movie ‘Cotton Queen’ by Qatar-based Sudanese filmmaker Suzannah Mirghani claimed the ArteKino Award at Cannes Film Festival’s L’Atelier 2022.

In this arm, 16 directors whose projects bear a promising production are invited to the Festival de Cannes. Along with their producers, the directors are presented with the opportunity to meet potential partners, which acts as a key step in finalising their project and starting the making of their film.

In an Instagram story posted by DFI, Mirghani said, “This is my very first feature, thank you for taking a risk on me, thank you for taking a risk on Sudan. We do not have many films from Sudan as you know, you can count them on two hands in the history of Sudanese film and fiction feature films.”

“And those made by women, zero. Thank you for supporting us.”

source/content: dohanews.co (headline edited/ pix: qatarliving.com

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pix: qatarliving.com

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Qatar 2022 becomes First FIFA World Cup to Achieve International Sustainability Certification

The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22) – the operational arm of FIFA and the Host Country for the delivery of the tournament – has achieved ISO 20121 certification, the international standard that sets requirements for developing and implementing an effective management system to deliver a sustainable event.

The certification was granted after an extensive audit process that was initiated during the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021 – which was held exactly a year before the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and Arab world.

Nasser Al Khater, CEO, Q22, said: “Sustainability has been at the heart of Qatar 2022 from the start, and the independent recognition of the delivery of best practices reflects our enduring commitment to it.

José Retana, Sustainability Senior Manager, Q22, said: “We are proud to become the first FIFA World Cup in history to obtain the ISO 20121 certification. This demonstrates that according to the evaluation by a third-party accredited entity, world-class management practices are being implemented to deliver an inclusive, green and legacy-oriented event.”

SGS carried out the extensive audit process. It is a world-leading testing, inspection and certification company that has a wealth of experience in certifying mega-sport event organisers against ISO 20121 requirements, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the French Open tennis tournament.

Sustainability management mechanisms assessed during the FIFA Arab Cup™ audit included:

Accessibility infrastructure and services for disabled fans, including seating, mobility assistance and innovative features such as audio descriptive commentary

Waste minimisation and recycling, including staff training, segregation and awareness-raising activities carried out with the support of sustainability volunteers

Sustainable procurement of items required for the delivery of the tournament, including uniforms made from recycled plastics and the use of compostable food packaging

Social and environmental audits to ensure supplier compliance with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Sustainable Sourcing Code

Incident reporting and resolution during tournament time, including governance arrangements and gathering of lessons learned

Chris Meakin, General Manager of SGS Qatar, said: “The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has effectively applied and demonstrated best practices under the framework of the Event Sustainability Management System (ISO 20121) to manage the event successfully. They have met the set benchmarks for global sustainability development and to control the event’s social, economic and environmental impact.”

source/content: thepeninsulaqatar.com (edited)

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Ahmed Tijan & Cherif Younousse, Qatari Men’s Pair Win Bronze Medal ,the First for Beach Volleyball – Tokyo 2020 Olympics : August 07th, 2021

Ahmed Tijan Jankol and Cherif Younousse Samba. Men’s Beach Volleyball. Sportsmen. Athletes.

Younousse and Tijan win Qatar’s first beach volleyball bronze

Qatar’s Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan downed Latvia’s Martins Plavins and Edgars Tocs in the men’s beach volleyball bronze medal match, 21-12, 21-18.

The straight sets victory provided Qatar’s first medal in the sport — and eighth overall medal in the history of the Olympics.

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pix: iloveqatar.net

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Mutaz Essa Barshim Wins 2nd Gold Medal For Qatar, Tokyo 2020 Olympics : July 2021

Mutaz Essa Barsham. Track and Field Athlete. High Jump.

Mutaz Barshim high jumper claims a first ever gold medal in the track and field with victory in the men’s high jump.

 High jumpers Mutaz Essa Barshim of Qatar and Gianmarco Tamberi of Italy share gold medal

The pair had a choice of a jump-off for one gold or shared medals, and they chose the latter because of their longtime friendship.

Both high jumpers were perfect until the bar was set to the Olympic-record height of 2.39 meters (7 feet, 10 inches). Each missed three times.

Earlier Wins:

  • National record holder
  • Asian record holder with a best mark of 2.43 m (7 ft 11+12 in).
  • Winner, gold medal at the 2017 World Championships in Athletics in London
  • Winner at 2019 World Championships in Athletics in Doha.
  • Winner bronze at the London 2012 Summer Olympics
  • Winner silver at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio
  • Winnr gold at the 2020 Summer Olympics Tokyo.
  • Asian Indoor and World Junior champion in 2010
  • Winner – high jump gold medals at the 2011 Asian Athletics Championships  
  • Winner at 2011 Military World Games

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pix: twitter.com/TamimBinHamad/status

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