Doha, 25 February 2015 - QNB, “One of the World’s Strongest Banks”, celebrated today the historic achievement of Qatar’s Show Jumping team by honoring the team members for their qualification to the 2016 Olympics to be held in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil next year, in addition to the FEI Nations Cup Jumping Final, which will be held this year in Barcelona, Spain.
The Qatari jockeys secured their qualification after all of Sheikh Ali Bin Khaled Al Thani on his steed, (Vienna), Ali Yousef Al Rumaihi on his steed, (Gunder), Khalid Al Emadi on his steed, (Tamira IV) and Bassem Hassan Mohammed on his steed (Palloubet D’Halong) excelled in the championships held in Abu Dhabi, UAE; surpassing all the other 12 Arab and European teams.
The ceremony is held in honor of these great riders with the support of the Qatar Equestrian Federation(QEF), which was able to raise the State of Qatar’s name high in international sports gatherings, whereby the Qatari team is the first Arab team to reach the showjumping finals in the upcoming Olympics.
Ali Rashid Al-Mohannadi, Executive General Manager and Chief Operating Officer at QNB Group, headed the honoring ceremony, which was also attended by top officials from the Group. The ceremony featured the honoring of the Qatari team and the Equestrian Federation for their great efforts. Al-Mohannadi also awarded a commemorative shield to Mr. Hamad Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, President of the Qatari Equestrian Federation, on this momentous occasion.
Mr. Al-Mohannadi stated that QNB has a close relationship with the Qatari Equestrian Federation due to the great interest and care the federation in particular and Qatari horsemanship in general, receive from the State of Qatar, as well as for their great achievements, which helped raise the country’s name in international gatherings.
Al-Mohannadi added that QNB is an avid supporter of numerous events and activities organized by the federation in Qatar, and to its activities outside Qatar, most prominent of which are the Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe, a prestigious event held last year in the French capital, Paris. The event witnessed the participation of numerous star athletes and VIPs and was considered a shining Qatari beacon that lit the Paris skies with its splendor.
Al Mohannadi also expressed his joy at this qualification and for the Qatar Equestrian Federation’s keenness on raising Qatari horsemanship to the highest international levels. He wished them success in their future endeavors.
On his part, Mr. Hamad Bin Abdul Rahman Al-Attiyah, President of the Qatari Equestrian Federation, thanked QNB officials for the ceremony held for the Qatari team, stressing that this honoring ceremony will serve as support and incentive for the team, especially from a financial institution of such local and international prominence.
Al-Attiyah further praised QNB’s initiatives, which contributed to the success of local championships and constituted a part of the success the federation achieved in international events. He called on all institutions to follow in QNB’s steps to develop all the Qatari federations.