By Nick Butler at the InterContinental Hotel in Doha

Asian Athletics Association President Dahlan Al Hamad (right), alongside Oceanic counterpart Geoff Gardner, has reiterated his desire for more inter-continental cooperation ©David Tarbotton via IAAFTalks have begun between Asia and Oceania to boost cooperation and opportunities for athletes in both continents, Asian Athletics Association (AAA) President Daalan Al-Hamad revealed here.


It follows the successful partnership between the AAA and Athletics Oceania at this year's International Association of Athletics Associations (IAAF) Continental Cup in Marrakech, where an Asian/Pacific team containing Qatar's World Indoor high jump champion Mutaz Barshim and Australian long jumper Henry Frayne finished in fourth place.

The two Federations undertook a similar partnership for the first time four years ago in Split, also finishing fourth, behind Europe, the Americas and Africa.

Al Hamad, also head of the Qatar Athletics Federation and an IAAF vice-president, believes greater cooperation fits with the current policy of globalisation pioneered by the world governing body, and also boost opportunities for athletes. 

"The IAAF have put the strategy of making our sport more global and with more cooperation between continents," he said following the IAAF Evaluation Commission visit here to assess Doha's bid for the 2019 World Championships.

"We have started those kind of talks between Asia and Oceania.

"We have started some some kind of cooperation, we believe we have to start with the athletes, and that kind of work has already started."

Qatar's high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim was part of the Asia-Pacific team that competed in the IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech earlier this year ©Getty ImagesQatar's high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim was part of the Asia-Pacific team that competed in the IAAF Continental Cup in Marrakech earlier this year ©Getty Images



The Qatari, who has previous described this collaboration as an "example" for all continents, is supported by Athletics Oceania chief Geoff Gardner, who sees plans to develop an Asian-Pacific competition circuit as a way to utilise this relationship.

This would presumably allow athletes from both regions to benefit from each other's respective strengths, while allowing competition to take place in the summer months as well as when the European season is in progress.

This comes at a time when collaboration between Asia and Oceania has been much talked about in a more general sporting sense, with Olympic Council of Asia chief Sheikh Ahmad Al Fahad Al Sabah claiming that Oceanic countries could one day compete in the Asian Games.

The 18 countries that make up the Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) have already accepted an invitation to participate in the 2017 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games, due to take place in Turkmenistan's capital Ashgabat.

Contact the writer of this story at nick.butler@insidethegames.biz