Free Syrian athletes to compete at athletics event

CAIRO - Anatolia News Agency

The 18th Arab Athletics Championship will be held in Qatar’s capital Doha between May 21 and 24. AP Photo/Thibault Camus

The Free Syrian Sports Association (FSSA) is to compete under the flag of dissidents at the 18th Arab Athletics Championship next month.

Secretary General of FSSA Yasser Hallak made the announcement during the governing body’s first general conference in the Egyptian capital of Cairo on April 8.

“Syrian athletes will represent Syria under the ‘Freedom Flag’ at the 18th Arab Athletics Championship,” Hallak said.

The championship will be held in Qatar’s capital Doha between May 21 and 24.

The Athletics Championship is the leading Arab sports event in a busy Doha calendar this year, with the Arab Weightlifting Championship (from May 26 until June 2), the Arab Wrestling Championship (June 1-4) and Arab Junior Fencing Championship (July 1-6) also on the way.