Sport in Qatar

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Sport in

handball, volleyball, camel racing, horse racing, cricket and swimming are also widely practised.[1] There are currently eleven multi-sports clubs in the country, and seven single-sports clubs.[1]

The largest sporting event hosted in Qatar was the 2006 Asian Games, hosted in Doha. There were 46 disciplines from 39 events contested. On 2 December 2010, Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, thus becoming the first Arab nation to host the tournament.[2] Qatar will host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, thus becoming the first Arab nation to host major basketball tournament

Two weeks after stripping San Diego as the host of the first World Beach Games, the Association of National Olympic Committees on 14 June 2019 gave Qatar the honour to host the event. ANOC said "Qatar boasts spectacular oceanfront locations and is ready to provide the perfect setting."[3] The 2019 World Beach Games were held from October 12 to 16.[4]

Football

Qatar national football team in 2011.

Football is by far the most popular sport in Qatar, and is played and supported by locals and expatriates alike. The country has two tiers of domestic professional football leagues. The top tier, known as the Qatar Stars League, has undergone numerous expansions in the last several years. In 2009, the league expanded from ten to twelve clubs,[5] and again expanded by two clubs in May 2013, bringing the total number of teams in the first division to fourteen.[6] Attendance at QSL matches ranges between 2,000 and 10,000, depending on the popularity of the teams.[7] In a 2014 survey conducted by Qatari government ministries and departments, 65% of the 1,079 respondents indicated that they did not attend a football match in the previous league season.[8]

Al Sadd is the most successful sports club in the country, and have won the continental club competition on two occasions. Former Real Madrid and Spain striker Raúl played for Al Sadd between 2012 and 2014, and in July 2015 the club announced the signing of former FC Barcelona and Spain playmaker Xavi.[9] In May 2019, Xavi was appointed the head coach of the club following his retirement at the end of the 2018–19 season.[10] Other famous footballers to play in Qatar include Pep Guardiola, Gabriel Batistuta, Fernando Hierro, Ronald de Boer, Santi Cazorla and Marco Verratti.[11]

The Qatari national football team have won the Arabian Gulf Cup three times and twice as hosts, first in 1992 and again in 2004 and 2015.[12] The youth team also reached the final of the 1981 FIFA World Youth Championship, where they lost 4–0 to West Germany in the final.[13]

Qatar hosted the AFC Asian Cup in 1988, 2011 and 2023.[14] They won the competition for the first time in the 2019 edition, after defeating Japan 3–1 in the final held in Abu Dhabi.[15][16] Qatar would successfully retain their title on home soil, following a 3–1 victory against Jordan in the 2023 final held in Lusail.[17]

In June 2019, FIFA awarded Qatar the rights to host the 2019 and 2020 FIFA Club World Cup.[18] On 21 December 2019, Qatar concluded the Club World Cup, which was being looked at as a benchmark for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. However, the tournament was announced as one of the most successful editions in history by Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Hassan al-Thawadi.[19]

2022 FIFA World Cup

Russia handing over the symbolic relay baton for the hosting rights of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar in June 2018

On 2 December 2010, Qatar won their bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[2] Beating rival bids from Australia, the United States, South Korea, and Japan, FIFA stated that the Qatari bid ran on a platform of bringing the World Cup to the only part of the world previously excluded from hosting it, donating parts of stadia to under-developed countries in Africa and Asia after the competition finishes, and giving fans the opportunity to watch multiple matches in one day and reduce travel expenses by being the most compact tournament to date.[20]

The local organising committee, the Supreme Committee for Development and Legacy, is planning to build nine new stadiums and expand three existing stadiums for this event. The first stadium to be completed will be the Khalifa International Stadium, due in 2016.[21] Qatar's winning bid for the 2022 World Cup was greeted enthusiastically in the Arab world as it was the first time a country in the Middle East or North Africa had been selected to host the tournament.

The tournament is expected to generate thousands of jobs, with extensive infrastructure required to prepare the country to host the world's biggest sports games. Official Qatari sources have estimated that the country will spend US$138 billion, which will include new motorways, a new deep water port, a metro system as well as nine stadia and an extensive fan zone.[22]

As of summer 2015, major contracts have been awarded to a number of international companies, including

Arup Associates, and Pascall+Watson.[23]

In addition to the awarding of contracts to international companies, the Supreme Committee announced its intention to support entrepreneurs and small and medium-sized enterprises in the region through the Challenge 22 competition. Held for the first time in June 2015, the competition requires anyone inhabiting a GCC country to submit a business plan. Finalists are invited to Doha for two days of intense coaching, before pitching to judges and winning cash and incubation prizes.[24]

To deliver these projects on time the economy and population are expected to double between 2014 and 2022, with the total number of inhabitants due to exceed four million. The need for new housing has given a boost to the construction and real estate sectors, with growth expected to be 9.5 percent according to the

Qatar Statistics Authority.[25]

The emblem for the 2022 FIFA World Cup was revealed in Doha on September 3, 2019. Since the 2022 FIFA would be the first to be played in winters, the emblem depicts a woollen shawl and is inspired by the Arab culture.[26]

Ahead of the World Cup, the

United States Men's National Soccer Team (USMNT) announced to hold a training camp in Doha in January 2020. Players like Gyasi Zardes, Jordan Morris, Sebastian Lletget and Aaron Long have been invited to join the camp at Qatar's Aspire Academy.[27]

In October 2021, David Beckham signed a $277 million (£150m) deal with Qatar. Beckham signed a ten-year deal with Qatar to be the face of the Qatar World Cup in 2022.[28]

Controversies

Shortly after the awarding of the World Cup to Qatar, the bid was embroiled in controversy, including allegations of bribery. European football associations have also objected to the 2022 World Cup being held in Qatar for a variety of reasons, including the impact of high temperatures on players' fitness, to the disruption it might cause in European domestic league calendars should the event be rescheduled to take place during winter.[29][30] In March 2015, FIFA and Qatar agreed that the competition would be held in November and December 2022.[31]

Qatar authorities have also sought to improve the situation by commissioning British law firm DLA Piper to undertake a review of conditions in 2012.[32] Following the recommendations made, Qatar Foundation created the Migrant Workers Welfare Charter which apply minimum requirements with respect to the recruitment, living and working conditions, as well as the general treatment of workers engaged in construction and other projects. The mandatory standards will be incorporated into agreements between Qatar Foundation and all its contractors, who are required to comply with the requirements and rules. Contractors and sub-contractors found to be violating the regulations have been blacklisted from future tenders.[33]

kafala system will be announced later in 2015.[34]

On 31 March 2016, Amnesty International reported that Qatar exposed for its forced labour & abuses against migrant workers. This report is  based on 132 migrant construction workers. According to the report there were many issues like, congested and small accommodations, not being paid for several months, kafala sponsorship system and many others.[35] In October 2019, Qatari authorities have taken a significant step towards protecting migrant workers. According to the reports the reforms include minimum thresholds for wage, food and accommodation, totaling QR 1,800. In addition, a Minimum Wage Commission was established to monitor its impact. Between September 2020 and March 2022, over 300,000 workers (including 7,000 domestic workers) changed their jobs. The Worker’s Support and Insurance Fund, established in 2019, has disbursed QAR 358,000,000 (nearly USD 100m) to over 35,000 workers, in March 2022. A non-discriminatory minimum wage came into force in March 2021, and 280,000 workers or 13% of the workforce received wage rise. The number of complaints at the online platform was nearly 25,000 in 2021, compared to 11,000 in the previous year. In March 2022, 228 workers’ representatives were elected to represent almost 40,000 employees in 37 enterprises.[36]

Motor racing

Mutaz Essa Barshim
posing for a picture.

Qatar Racing Club, a drag racing facility where the Arabian Drag Racing League competes, is located in the country's capital Doha on a 150,000 m2 area. Its racing track has a capacity for 2,000 people.[37]

Khalid bin Hamad Al Thani, the first Qatari to drive a Formula One car,[38] is involved in the sport and is the owner of Al-Annabi Racing.[39]

Qatari athlete

FIA Cross Country Rally World Cup, the 2006 Production World Rally Championship, and the 2014 and 2015 World Rally Championship-2
.

The Losail International Circuit has hosted the Qatar motorcycle Grand Prix since 2004, a Superbike World Championship round from 2005 to 2009 and since 2014, a Motocross World Championship round since 2013[40][41] and hosted its first ever Formula One grand prix on November 21, 2021,[42] with Lewis Hamilton taking the inaugural victory.[43]

Powerboat racing

The Grand Prix of Qatar, a round in the Formula 1 Powerboat World Championship, was held annually in Doha Bay from 2005 to 2015.[44] In addition, the state-sponsored Qatar Team won four Formula 1 championships with Jay Price (2008)[45] and Alex Carella (20112013).[46] Qatar ended their involvement in Formula 1 powerboat racing in early 2015 with the merger of the Qatar Sailing Federation and Qatar Marine Sports Federation (QMSF).[47]

Since November 2009, Qatar has been host of the Oryx Cup World Championship, a hydroplane boat race in the H1 Unlimited season. The races take place in Doha Bay.[48]

Basketball

Qatari female basketball players

Basketball is an increasingly popular sport in Qatar. The sport is administered by the Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF).[49] The QBF was established in 1964, but was only admitted into the FIBA Asia and the Organizing Committee of the GCC in 1979.[50]

Qatar's first basketball championship came in the 1995 GCC Youth Championship.

Asian Basketball Championship[52] and qualified for the FIBA Basketball World Cup for the first time in 2006 held in Japan.[53] Qatar will host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup making Qatar the first FIBA Basketball World Cup in the Middle East or North Africa reigon.[54]

Club teams compete in the Qatari Basketball League, the top domestic basketball league in the country. Qatar's first women's basketball league was launched in 2012.[55]

On 28 April 2023, During Central Board meeting in Manila, FIBA announced that Qatar will host the upcoming World Cup in 2027.[56]

The 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup will be the 20th tournament of the FIBA Basketball World Cup for men's national basketball teams. The tournament will be hosted in Qatar and will be the third to feature 32 teams.

It will be the first FIBA Basketball World Cup to be held in the Arab world, and the third straight to be held in Asia after the 2019 tournament in China and the 2023 edition co-hosted by the Philippines, Japan, and Indonesia. Qatar will also be the second Muslim country to host after the 2010 edition in Turkey.[57]

Beach volleyball

Qatar featured a men's national team in beach volleyball that competed at the 2018–2020 AVC Beach Volleyball Continental Cup.[58]

Camel racing

Historically camel racing was a tradition among the Bedouin tribes of Qatar and would be performed on special occasions such as weddings.[59] It was not until 1972, one year after Qatar's independence, that camel racing was practiced on a professional level. Typically, camel racing season takes place from September to March. Approximately 22,000 racing camels are used in competitions which are mainly held at the country's primary camel racing venue, the Al-Shahaniya Camel Racetrack. The average distance of such races is usually 4 to 8 km depending on the conditions of the camels being raced.[60]

Cricket

ICC World Twenty20
which exclude Qatar but include nations which account for most of the expatriates in the country are one of the most viewed sporting events in the country.

The Qatar Cricket Association (QCA) is set to host the country's first T10 League by the end of 2019.[61]

Falconry

A saker falcon used for falconry in Qatar

Falconry is widely practiced by Qataris. The only falconry association is Al Gannas, which was founded in 2008 in the Katara Cultural Village district of Doha, and which hosts the Annual Falconry Festival. There are roughly 3,000 people in Qatar who own falcons. Hunting season extends from October to April. Prices of falcons can be extremely high, being as expensive as QR 1 million.[62]

Futsal

Futsal became an officially sanctioned sport in 2007, when the fully professional Qatar Futsal League was established.[63] There are two futsal tournaments; the QFA Futsal Cup and the Open Cup, which was inaugurated in 2010.[64] Futsal is overseen by a department of the Qatar Football Association.[65] A women's league was launched in 2009 under the auspices of the Women's Sports Committee.[66]

Golf

Qatar has hosted the Commercial Bank Qatar Masters, a European Tour golf event, since 1998.[67]

Handball

Handball is a very popular team sport in Qatar.[1] It was introduced to the country in 1968; however, Qatar did not join the International Handball Federation until the 1970s.[68] The Qatar men's national handball team qualified for the IHF World Men's Handball Championship on four occasions, and automatically qualified for a fifth as host.[68] Qatar came runners-up to France in the 2015 World Handball Championship held on home soil, however the tournament was marred by various controversies.[69]

Qatar has won the Asian Men's Handball Championship title four times in a row in 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2020.[70][71]

Table Tennis

In October 2021, Sultan Khalid Al Kuwari won U-13 World table tennis tournament with 3-2 victory over compatriot Rawad Al Nasser at Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex in Muscat, Oman.[72]

Sport by number of athletes registered

Qatar Emir Cup
in 2009

Statistics accurate as of 2013.[1]

 
Sport Female Male Total
Football 316 5,156 5,472
Swimming 41 2,361 2,402
Athletics 0 2,043 2,043
Handball
53 1,855 1,908
Taekwondo
Judo
295 1,178 1,473
Volleyball 107 1357 1,464
Basketball 43 997 1,040
Fencing 255 499 754
Field hockey 196 481 677
Karate 95 422 517
Table tennis 30 402 432
Tennis 69 211 280
Billiards
Snooker
0 190 190
 
Sport Female Male Total
Endurance riding 30 118 148
Gymnastics 69 66 135
Bowling 0 122 122
Equestrian sports 13 86 99
Golf 8 57 65
Chess 32 29 61
Wrestling 0 56 56
Boxing 0 56 56
Squash 0 49 49
Sailing
Rowing
4 24 28
Weightlifting
Bodybuilding
0 22 22

Major sport events in Qatar

Annual Events

  • since 1993 - Qatar ExxonMobil Open
  • since 1998 - Commercial Bank Qatar Masters
  • since 2004 - FIM Moto Racing World Championships
  • since 2008 - FEI Equestrian Global Champions Tour
  • since 2008 - WTA Tour Tennis Championships
  • since 2010 - IAAF Diamond League
  • since 2010 - IHF Handball Super Globe
  • since 2010 - FIVB Club World Championships

Failed Bids

  • 2020 - Olympic Games

See also

References

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