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Overview Vision Mission Leadership Milestones

Overview

The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) is the National Olympic Committee of Qatar and is the overall supervising body for the Olympic movement in Qatar. It is one of 205 National Olympic Committees (NOCs) currently recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC). The QOC was founded on 14th March 1979. It was officially recognised by the International Olympic Committee in 1980, the Olympic Council of Asia in 1981 and the Arab Sports Games Federation in 1982.

The QOC strives to use innovation to advance sports development and many of its programs, initiatives and events are the first of their kind in the Middle East. These include National Sport Day, the Qatar Olympic Academy, the Qatar Women’s Sports Committee, the Schools Olympic Program, and the Qatar Athlete Development Pathway.

The QOC works closely with its 23 National Federations to provide support to athletes, coaches and officials at every level of the sporting pathway, as well as in the bidding for and organisation of world-class sports events. It aims to use its hosting of world-class sports events to inspire and engage young people through sport, raise awareness about the importance of sport in everyday life, increase tourism, business and employment opportunities, and forge global friendships.

Vision

To Become a Leading Nation in Bringing The World Together Through Sustainable Sport Development

 

Mission

To spread sports and physical activities in the country
To sponsor and improve Olympic Movemen​t in accordance with principles of Olympic Charter
To supp​ort and improve sports performance within the context of the Olympic spirit

 

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Leadership

H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani

President of Qatar Olympic Committee

H.E. Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani is the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, a position he has held since 2015. He also serves as a Board Member of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 (2018-) and as President of the 2023 FINA World Championships Organising Committee and 2023 FINA World Masters Championships Organising Committee (2018-.)

His Excellency previously served as President for the Doha 2030 Asian Games Bid Committee, leading Qatar’s successful campaign. He has overseen the world-class delivery of a number of Qatar’s international events in recent years as President of the ANOC World Beach Games Qatar 2019 Organizing Committee, President of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Organising Committee, President of the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Organising Committee, and President of the Qatar 2015 Men’s Handball World Championship Organising Committee.

On a continental level, H.E. Sheikh Joaan was President of the 2012 Asian Handball Championships Organising Committee and was an Ambassador of the Doha 2006 Asian Games Torch Relay.

Passionate about equestrian, a sport His Excellency practices, he is currently the Chairman of Al-Shaqab Racing (2011-). He also served as the Vice-President of Al-Sadd Sports Club (2012 – 2015.)

Within the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he is on the Public Affairs and Social Development through Sport Commission (2018-) and is a Board Member of IOC - Olympic Refuge Foundation (2017-).

Away from sport, H.E. Sheikh Joaan is Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Qatar Leadership Academy (2005-). He has an Executive MBA from HEC Paris in Qatar (2021). Prior to this, he earned his Bachelor’s degree in 2007 from the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr in France. He then obtained a Post-Graduation degree in 2015 from the Royal College of Defence Studies in the UK, followed by a Professional Development Diploma in 2020 from the London School of Public Relations.

H.E. Sheikh Joaan has been awarded the Contribution to the Olympic Movement (2019) award from the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), and the Corporate Social Responsibility Person of the Year award (2015) from Qatar University.

 

H.E. Jassim bin Rashid Al-Buenain

Secretary General Of Qatar Olympic Committee 

Milestones

2019

  • Qatar hosts the IAAF World Athletics Championships – Doha 2019, for the first time in the Middle East.
  • Qatar hosts the first Edition of ANOC Beach Games.
  • Qatar hosts the XXIV ANOC General Assembly for the second time.

2020

  • Qatar wins the bid to host the 21st Edition of the Asian Games in 2030.

2022

  • Qatar to host the FIFA World Cup for the first time in the Middle East.

2023

  • Qatar to host the FINA World Championships and FINA World Masters Championships for the first time in the Middle East.