Sports in Qatar

Sports Federations and Associations

• Air Sports • Athletics • Basketball

• Billiards and Snooker • Bowling

• Boxing and Wrestling • Chess

• Cricket • Cycling and Triathlon

• Equestrian and Modern Pentathlon

• Fencing • Football • Golf • Gymnastics

• Handball • Karate, Judo and Taekwondo

• Motor and Motorcycle • Paralympic

• Rugby and Hockey • Sailing and Rowing

• Shooting and Archery • Sports for All

• Women's Sports • Swimming

• Table Tennis • Taekwondo, Judo and Karate

• Tennis, Squash and Badminton

• Volleyball • Weightlifting • Winter Sports

Sports Facilities

Qatar Olympic Committee

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) was established in 1979 to oversee sports events and subsequently became members of the International Olympic Committee, the Olympic Council of Asia, and the Arab Sports Games Federation. QOC merged some national federations in 2016, and in 2021 Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani was re-elected President of the QOC.

QOC released its 2023–2030 Strategy in March 2023, with three main objectives: ensuring sports excellence; promoting Olympic culture; and achieving comprehensive sports development.

QOC runs several campaigns to engage residents in keeping fit and healthy, including National Sport Day on the second Tuesday of February each year – one of only a few countries to hold such a public holiday – as well as events for schoolchildren and the promotion of women in sport. olympic.qa

Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) D3 Activities, sports medicine, research and education. Facilities include Aspire Dome, Aspire Park, Hamad Aquatic Centre, Khalifa Stadium, the Ladies Sports Hall and Ladies Club, tracks and playing fields. AZF runs the community sports initiatives Aspire Active, Step Into Health and Namat. 4413 8188, aspirezone.qa

Aspire Academy Applied sports science support to student-athletes; hosts international sports stars using the facilities. 4413 6570, aspire.qa

Aspetar The first specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital in the Gulf region, offering treatment for injuries. 4413 2000, aspetar.com

Other sports faciities include:

• Asian Town Cricket Stadium

• Doha Sports Park

• Doha Golf Club

• Education City Golf Club

• Khalifa International Tennis & Squash Complex

• Lusail International Circuit

• Lusail Olympic Shooting Range

• Qatar Racing & Equestrian Club

Previous international sporting events include • Tour of Qatar (men's and women's cycling)

• 15th Asian Games (2006) • 2011 AFC Asian Cup • 12th Pan Arab Games (2011)

• FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) (2014) • Men’s Handball World Championship (2015)

• AIBA World Boxing Championships (2015)

• UCI Road World Championships (2016)

• FIG Artistic World Gymnastics Championships (2018)

• World Padel Championship 2022

Annual international events

• 2019 IAAF World Championships

• FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022TM

• Commercial Bank Grand Prix of Qatar (MotoGP)

• Commercial Bank Qatar Masters (golf)

• FIA World Endurance Championship (2024 onwards)

• Formula 1 Ooredoo Qatar

Grand Prix (2023 onwards)

• Longines Global Champions Tour (equestrian)

• Qatar Classic Squash Tournament

• Qatar ExxonMobil Open (ATP tennis)

• Qatar Ladies Open (WTA tennis)

• Qatar Table Tennis Open

Coming up

• World Athletics Wanda Diamond League (athletics)

• 2023 AFC Asian Cup

• 2024 FINA World Aquatics Championships

• 2030 Asian Games

Get Involved! Also in this section: Sports Activities has a list of clubs and associations to join, while the Sports Calendar has an overview of events. Make sure you keep up to date with all the latest news – visit marhaba.qa, subscribe to our newsletter, and follow us on social media. m