The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change hosts the second edition of the ‘IKPIS’ Championship
Minister of Environment and Climate Change H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie inaugurated the second edition of a Ramadan Beach Volleyball Championship (Ikbis 2024). It was launched on the sand court in Aspire Park. The ten-day event is being organized by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MoECC) from March 13 to 22, 2024.
The MoECC is participating in the tournament, which consists of 14 teams divided into four groups. The Ministry’s team will play three matches within the first group. The first match was played with the Information Challenge team on Thursday, March 14. The Izghawa team will also meet on Friday, March 15, and will conclude. The first group matches will conclude with a match with the Nefeesh team on Sunday, March 17.
Director of the Public Relations and Communication Department at MoECC Mohammed Ahmed Al-Dhahi explained that the Ministry’s hosting of the “Ikbis” tournament comes from its belief in the importance of community partnership, to raise the level of environmental awareness among all segments of Qatari society. This will be done through the accompanying activities that will be held on the sidelines of the Ramadan Beach Volleyball Championship. Al Dhahi noted that the Ministry has prepared a rich and diverse programme, which continues throughout the tournament, as the programme includes a group of entertainment and educational activities and events aimed at raising environmental awareness for all participants in the tournament, including players and spectators, in addition to their families.
The Director of Public Relations and Communications, during statements to the press on the sidelines of the first day of the championship, pointed to the strong relationship between a clean and sustainable environment and the encouragement of sports participation and the improvement of public health. He noted that the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change seeks to achieve many objectives during the organization of the championship, such as raising awareness about sustainable development, which balances comprehensive development with the preservation of the environment and natural resources of the country.
The objectives also include encouraging the adoption of sustainable practices that preserve biodiversity in the local environment, in addition to raising awareness about the importance of sports and its role in the lives of individuals and communities, thereby embedding it as a lifestyle for all members of Qatari society. He emphasized that these objectives are part of the efforts of the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change aimed at achieving the four pillars of Qatar Vision 2030.
Mr. Mohammed Al-Dhahi invited all members of the Qatari community to the importance of attending and bringing their families to watch the beach volleyball competitions and support their favorite teams, especially since the number of participating teams has reached 14 teams representing various areas and institutions of the country. He also encouraged enjoying the Ramadan atmosphere of the “ikbis” championship and the accompanying activities suitable for all ages, held at the sand court of the Aspire Foundation during the evening period throughout the ten-day duration of the championship.
Chairman of the Championship Organizing Committee Faisal Khalid Al Otaibi stressed that the Ministry has made a great effort to overcome all challenges and obstacles, which makes the current version a milestone and distinguished in the history of the “Ikbis” tournament and all Ramadan tournaments.
He said the tournament allocated a number of distinguished financial prizes to the winning teams, by allocating QR100,000 to the first three places, where the first-place holder receives QR50,000, the runner-up receives QR30,000, and the third-place holder receives QR20,000, in addition to allocating an amount of QR500,000 for the fans.
He also mentioned that on the first day of the championship, three matches were held. In the first match, Team Nafish played against Izghwa, and in the second match, Team Alsaqour Alfadea competed against Baroq. The first day concluded with a match between Team Aldana and Alrayan. He mentioned that the championship is held in a group stage format with one round, where the top two teams from each group advance to the quarterfinals. The first team from Group A plays against the second team from Group B, the first team from Group B plays against the second team from Group A, the first team from Group C plays against the second team from Group D, and the first team from Group D plays against the second team from Group C.
