Our
Presidents
H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani
2015 - Present
H.H Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani
2000 - 2015
H.H. Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani
1995 - 2000
H.E. Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Hamad Al Attiyah
1993 - 1995
H.E. Sheikh Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani
1991 - 1993
H.H. Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani
1979 - 1991
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QOC
Milestones
From tradition to global acclaim, Qatar has marked significant milestones in sports, athlete development, and major events.
Qatar's First Participation in the Asian Games
"Qatar made its first Asian Games appearance at Bangkok 1978, entering the programme of Asia's largest multi-sport event for the first time. The Qatari delegation competed within a system that brought together the continent's National Olympic Committees under common eligibility, registration and officiating rules. The importance of the appearance lay in its status as Qatar's first formal presence at a major continental competition involving numerous sports and delegations. Managing the participation required the coordination of athlete entries, training arrangements, transport and competition schedules throughout the Games. The year 1978 therefore marks the official starting point of Qatar's participation in the Asian Games."
Qatar Olympic Committee Established
"The Qatar Olympic Committee was officially established on 14 March 1979. H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani was elected as the Committee’s first President. Its establishment marked the institutional beginning of the Olympic Movement in Qatar. The QOC assumed a central role in supporting sports development and promoting Olympic values and principles. This milestone laid the foundation for Qatar’s organised journey within the Olympic Movement."
International Recognition of the Qatar Olympic Committee
"In 1980, the Qatar Olympic Committee received official recognition from the International Olympic Committee. The recognition established the QOC as Qatar’s recognised National Olympic Committee. It represented a fundamental step towards Qatar’s full integration into the international Olympic Movement. It also provided the formal framework for Qatar’s participation in international Olympic activities and events. The milestone gave Qatari sport an officially recognised institutional presence on the global stage."
Membership of the Olympic Council of Asia
"The Qatar Olympic Committee joined the Olympic Council of Asia in 1981. This step strengthened Qatar’s presence within the Olympic Movement at the continental level. The QOC became part of the wider network of National Olympic Committees across Asia. Membership created broader opportunities for participation and cooperation within Asian sport. It also laid the foundation for Qatar’s growing role in the Asian Olympic Movement."
Membership of the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees
"The Qatar Olympic Committee joined the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees in 1982, becoming a member of the organisation that brings together Arab National Olympic Committees and coordinates their shared activities. Membership allows participation in the Union's meetings, committees and programmes and provides a forum for discussing issues affecting Olympic sport in Arab countries. It also supports technical and administrative exchange in national-team preparation, workforce development and event organisation. The Union offers a framework for coordination concerning Arab multi-sport events, solidarity initiatives and cooperation among member committees. Qatar's membership established a formal presence within the Arab Olympic system and strengthened institutional communication with its members."
Qatar's First Participation in the Olympic Games
Qatar made its Olympic debut at the Los Angeles 1984 Olympic Games. The first appearance marked Qatar’s transition from institutional recognition to participation on the world’s biggest sporting stage. Qatar competed in athletics and football at the Games. The participation began a continuing Olympic journey for Team Qatar and its athletes. This milestone paved the way for the Olympic achievements and medals that followed in later decades.
Qatar's First Olympic Medal
"Qatar won the first Olympic medal in its history at the Barcelona 1992 Olympic Games. Mohamed Suleiman claimed bronze in the men’s 1,500 metres. The achievement marked Qatar’s first appearance on an Olympic medal podium. It demonstrated the ability of Qatari athletes to compete and succeed at the highest level of international sport. The Barcelona medal opened a new chapter of Olympic ambition and achievement for Team Qatar."
Establishment of the Qatar Paralympic Committee
"The Qatar Paralympic Committee was established in 1994 to manage and develop sport for persons with disabilities and to represent it nationally and internationally. Its establishment created a specialised body responsible for athlete preparation, training programmes, participation and the coordination of technical and administrative support. The Committee's work includes overseeing athlete classification under Paralympic rules and developing coaches, officials and personnel across relevant sports. It also seeks to provide a more inclusive sporting environment and expand access to training and competition. The Committee established a clear institutional pathway connecting the development of Paralympic sport in Qatar with recognised international systems and standards."
Qatar's First Participation in the Paralympic Games
"Qatar made its Paralympic Games debut at Atlanta 1996, formally entering the leading international multi-sport event for athletes with disabilities. The Qatari delegation participated under the Paralympic classification system, which determines athlete eligibility and competition classes according to the functional impact of an impairment. The first appearance required the completion of entry, accreditation and medical and technical classification procedures before competition. Delegation management also covered travel, training and services suited to athletes' needs during the Games. The year 1996 is therefore recognised as the beginning of Qatar's official participation in the Paralympic Games."
Men's World Open Squash Championship
"Doha hosted the Men's World Open Squash Championship in 1998, staging an individual competition that brought international-level players together for the world title. The championship required courts prepared to the sport's technical specifications and a sequence of scheduled matches and rounds leading to the final. Operations included player registration, training arrangements, officiating services, delegation support and results management. The enclosed nature of squash also placed precise requirements on the playing surface, glass walls, spectator sightlines and broadcast presentation. Staging the rounds at one site allowed player movement, training and matches to be managed without transfers between multiple venues."
Women's World Open Squash Championship
"Doha hosted the Women's World Open Squash Championship in 2002, presenting an individual world competition for leading female players at the sport's highest international level. Matches progressed through successive rounds to determine the world champion, with careful scheduling of competition, training and recovery periods. The event required courts prepared to international squash specifications together with systems for officiating, scoring and the certification of results. Hosting also covered services for players, coaching teams, officials and participating delegations throughout the championship. Bringing matches and training together at one site supported efficient movement of players and coaching teams between the competition rounds."
World Team Table Tennis Championships
"Doha hosted the World Team Table Tennis Championships in 2004, becoming the first city in the Middle East to stage a world championship in the sport, according to the International Table Tennis Federation. Competition was based on national-team ties rather than singles and doubles titles, with separate parallel programmes for men's and women's teams. Each tie comprised a sequence of individual matches whose results determined the winning team and progression to the next round. The championship required multiple tables to operate simultaneously and the coordination of training, match schedules, officiating and electronic results. The Doha edition delivered a complete world championship in the team format under intensive, concurrent operational requirements."
World Weightlifting Championships
"Doha hosted the men's and women's World Weightlifting Championships in November 2005 during the International Weightlifting Federation's centenary year. Lifters competed in different weight categories in the snatch and the clean and jerk, with final standings based on validated lifts and the combined total. The championship produced a high technical standard, reflected in 31 world records. Qatari weightlifter Salem Jaber Saeed also won bronze in the heavyweight category, placing the host nation on the podium. The edition combined the men's and women's programmes with international judging and detailed procedures for weigh-ins, anti-doping controls and the management of lifting attempts."
15th Asian Games – Doha
"Doha hosted the 15th Asian Games in 2006. The Games represented a defining milestone in the journey of the Qatar Olympic Committee and the development of sport in the country. Their successful delivery strengthened national expertise in organising large-scale multi-sport events. They also established Doha’s reputation as a destination capable of hosting major sporting events to the highest standards. The legacy of Doha 2006 became an important foundation for the next phase of Qatar’s sporting development."
World Athletics Indoor Championships
"Aspire Dome in Doha hosted the 13th World Athletics Indoor Championships from 12 to 14 March 2010. The programme brought together men's and women's track races, jumps, throws and combined events within one venue. The championship required a certified indoor track and precisely configured technical areas for pole vault, high jump, long jump and shot put. Aspire Dome allowed competition, warm-up, training and services for athletes and officials to operate in a connected indoor environment. The three-day timetable also required the coordination of qualifying rounds, finals, recovery periods and broadcast production under international athletics standards."
Award of the 2022 FIFA World Cup
"Qatar was awarded the right to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup on 2 December 2010 by the FIFA Executive Committee in Zurich. The Qatari proposal was selected from five candidate bids, making Qatar the first country in the Middle East to receive the hosting rights. The presentation was built around a geographically compact tournament concept intended to limit travel between stadiums, training sites and services. It also set out plans for venues, transport, the spectator experience, operational delivery and post-tournament legacy. The award was the formal outcome of a bid process involving file preparation, technical evaluation, final presentations and voting."
Arab Games – Doha
"Doha hosted the Arab Games in December 2011, bringing together athletes and national teams from across the Arab world in a multi-sport programme. Competition was distributed across several venues, with concurrent schedules for men's and women's events and for individual and team sports. Delivery required a unified accreditation system for delegations, athletes and officials together with coordinated transport, accommodation, training and daily timetables. Operations also included medical services, anti-doping controls, results management, broadcasting and media coverage. The Games provided an integrated Arab competition framework that brought participating federations and national teams together in one city throughout the event."
First Participation of Qatari Women at the Olympic Games
"London 2012 marked the first participation of Qatari women at the Olympic Games through a delegation of four athletes competing in four different sports. Bahiya Al Hamad took part in shooting, Nada Arkaji in swimming, Noor Hussain Al-Malki in athletics and Aya Majdi in table tennis. Al Hamad carried the Qatari flag at the Opening Ceremony, becoming the first Qatari woman to perform that role at an Olympic Games. The range of entries gave the athletes a substantive presence across the competition programme rather than a single symbolic appearance. This milestone records the names and disciplines that formed the beginning of official Qatari women's participation at the Olympic Games."
World Short Course Swimming Championships (25m)
"The Hamad Aquatic Centre hosted the 12th World Short Course Swimming Championships from 3 to 7 December 2014. More than 900 swimmers from over 170 countries competed in men's and women's individual and relay events. Competition took place in a 25-metre pool, producing twice as many laps and turns as equivalent races in a 50-metre Olympic pool. The programme included new relay events, among them mixed races combining male and female swimmers in one team. The championship required precise management of heats and finals, electronic timing and the ratification of performances and results under international swimming rules."
Men's World Handball Championship
"Qatar hosted the 24th Men's World Handball Championship from 15 January to 1 February 2015, with 24 national teams participating. The tournament comprised 88 matches over 17 days at Lusail Multipurpose Hall, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena and Duhail Sports Hall. The intensive daily schedule required the coordination of team training, matches, officiating, transport and medical services across the three venues. Qatar advanced through the competition to reach the final and finish as runner-up. The result made Qatar the first non-European national team to contest a Men's World Handball Championship final."
World Boxing Championships
"Doha hosted the Men's World Boxing Championships in October 2015, the first edition of the event staged in the Middle East. Around 260 boxers from 74 countries competed across ten weight categories at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena. The programme progressed from preliminary bouts to the finals through a schedule that accommodated recovery periods, medical examinations and official weigh-ins. In addition to world medals, the results awarded 23 qualification places for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Each bout therefore had a direct effect on world standings and qualification opportunities under internationally recognised judging and safety requirements."
World Para Athletics Championships
"Doha hosted the World Para Athletics Championships in 2015, then the largest sporting event for persons with disabilities staged in the Middle East, according to the International Paralympic Committee. The programme covered men's and women's track and field events across the classes recognised by the Paralympic classification system. Competition crowned 212 world champions and produced 54 world records. Delivery required competition and warm-up areas suited to different classes together with accessible routes and services for athletes and delegations. The range of classifications also demanded precise technical coordination for officiating, call rooms, schedules and the validation of results."
Qatar's First Two Paralympic Medals
"Rio 2016 produced the first two medals in Qatar's Paralympic Games history within the same edition. Abdulrahman Abdulqadir won silver in the men's F34 shot put, while Sara Hamdi Masoud took silver in the women's F33 shot put and became the first Qatari woman to win a Paralympic medal. Both achievements came in field events but in separate classes determined by the classification system according to impairment type and its functional impact on performance. The athletes' attempts were governed by the measurement and officiating rules of Paralympic shot put. Together, the two results produced Qatar's first men's and women's appearances on a Paralympic podium."
UCI Road World Championships
"Doha hosted the UCI Road World Championships in 2016, bringing together leading male and female cyclists for road races and individual time trials. Sections of the courses ran on public roads, making the city itself part of the field of play. Distances and start arrangements varied by category, with programmes for men, women and the age groups included in the championships. Delivery required road closures, course security and the management of crossing points, team movements, technical vehicles and replacement bicycles. Television production, timing, results and medical services also had to operate along extended routes rather than within a single enclosed venue."
Artistic Gymnastics World Championships
"Aspire Dome hosted the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships from 25 October to 3 November 2018, the first gymnastics world championship in any discipline staged in the Middle East. A total of 542 gymnasts represented 76 National Olympic Committees. The programme included team competition, the individual all-around and men's and women's apparatus finals, with qualification and finals scheduled across ten days. Competition and training apparatus had to be installed and calibrated to International Gymnastics Federation specifications, supported by specialised judging and scoring systems. Team results also formed part of the Olympic qualification pathway for Tokyo 2020."
World Athletics Championships – Doha
"Khalifa International Stadium hosted the World Athletics Championships from 27 September to 6 October 2019 in a programme combining track and field competition with road events. The stadium used its cooling system to provide suitable conditions for athletes and spectators, while the championship track was presented in pink. Marathon and race-walking events were staged at night on Doha's Corniche under dedicated course, lighting and medical arrangements. The edition also introduced the mixed 4x400 metres relay to the World Championships programme for the first time. Distributing competition between the stadium and the Corniche required integrated coordination of training, transport, timing, broadcasting and results management."
Inaugural World Beach Games
"Qatar hosted the inaugural Association of National Olympic Committees World Beach Games in October 2019. A total of 1,237 athletes representing 97 National Olympic Committees competed across 14 disciplines. Events were distributed among open and aquatic locations including Katara, Al Gharafa, Aspire and other sites in Doha. The programme focused on beach, water and youth-oriented sports presented in fast competition formats distinct from conventional multi-sport programmes. Operating several sites required coordinated transport, training, security, medical, technical and broadcast services, together with planning for weather, water conditions and the specific field-of-play requirements of each sport."
Winning the Right to Host the 2030 Asian Games
"The Olympic Council of Asia awarded Doha the right to host the 21st Asian Games in 2030 at its General Assembly in Muscat on 16 December 2020. The decision followed presentations by the candidate cities and the submission of their technical concepts to the Assembly's members. Doha's proposal is based on using existing venues, transport networks and operational services while completing the specific requirements of the Games programme. Preparations cover competition sites, the Athletes' Village, accreditation, transport, technology and medical and media services. Final details concerning sports, schedules and venues remain subject to the approvals and organisational decisions made in the lead-up to the Games."
Qatar's First Two Olympic Gold Medals
"Tokyo 2020 produced the first two Olympic gold medals in Qatar's history. Fares Ibrahim Elbakh won the men's 96 kg weightlifting title on 31 July 2021 after lifting 177 kg in the snatch and 225 kg in the clean and jerk for an Olympic-record total of 402 kg. The following day, Mutaz Barshim shared the men's high jump gold medal with Italy's Gianmarco Tamberi after both cleared 2.37 metres without a failed attempt before the final height. With the athletes tied on attempts, both accepted the option to share first place under the competition rules. Qatar therefore topped the Olympic podium in two different sports at the same edition."
FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
"Qatar hosted the 22nd FIFA World Cup from 20 November to 18 December 2022, the first edition held in the Middle East and Arab world and the first staged in November and December. Thirty-two national teams played 64 matches across eight geographically compact stadiums, allowing travel between venues without domestic flights. The tournament produced 172 goals, then the highest total in a single edition, and recorded cumulative attendance of more than 3.4 million. Argentina and France contested the final at Lusail Stadium, drawing 3-3 after extra time. Argentina secured the title in the penalty shoot-out."
World Judo Championships
"Doha hosted the World Judo Championships at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in May 2023, bringing together leading male and female judoka from across the continents. The programme covered seven men's and seven women's weight categories together with the mixed-team event. Each category progressed from preliminary rounds to medal contests within a schedule of daily finals. Delivery required precise procedures for weigh-ins, accreditation, officiating and the management of warm-up, call and competition areas. Results also carried points in the international ranking period affecting qualification for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, increasing the competitive importance of every contest."
Winning the Right to Host the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup
"Doha will host the FIBA Basketball World Cup from 27 August to 12 September 2027, the first edition staged in the Middle East and North Africa. Thirty-two national teams will play 92 games across four venues: Duhail Arena, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, Al Janoub Arena and Lusail Arena, which will host the final. All matches will take place within one city, allowing teams to maintain a consistent accommodation and operating base and enabling spectators to attend more than one game in a day. Al Janoub Arena is being prepared for basketball requirements alongside upgrades to facilities and services at the other venues. Results will connect to the approved Olympic qualification pathways for Los Angeles 2028."
QOC Strategy 2023–2030
"The Qatar Olympic Committee adopted its 2023–2030 Strategy to guide the next phase of its work and the development of sport. The strategy is built around three core objectives: ensuring sporting excellence, promoting Olympism and achieving comprehensive sports development. It places athlete development and competitive performance at the centre of the QOC’s priorities. It also covers federation support, wider participation, sustainability, partnerships and sporting legacy. The strategy provides the institutional framework guiding the QOC’s work towards 2030 and beyond."
World Aquatics Championships – Doha
"Doha hosted the World Aquatics Championships from 2 to 18 February 2024, the first edition staged in Qatar and the region. More than 2,600 athletes from 204 countries, together with the World Aquatics Refugee Team, competed across 75 medal events. The programme comprised swimming, diving, water polo, artistic swimming, open water swimming and high diving. Competition was distributed between Aspire Dome, the Hamad Aquatic Centre and the Old Doha Port, each operating under different technical requirements for its sports. The championships also served as a major qualification opportunity for several events at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games."
Winning the Right to Host the T100 Final, 2025–2029
"Qatar's hosting of the T100 Triathlon World Championship Final runs for five years from 2025 through 2029. The first final in Lusail took place from 11 to 13 December 2025, and the 2026 edition is scheduled for 10 to 12 December. The principal race covers 100 kilometres: a 2 km swim, an 80 km cycling segment and an 18 km run. Final results contribute to the season standings that determine the men's and women's world champions, alongside a programme for amateur and age-group athletes. The 2025 edition involved more than 2,000 amateur participants representing 82 countries, while the five-year agreement provides a stable framework for planning and delivery."
Winning the Right to Host the 2026 ISSF World Shooting Championships
"Doha will host the ISSF World Championship Rifle/Pistol/Shotgun from 1 to 14 November 2026, marking Qatar's first staging of the championship in its combined format. The programme brings together the three Olympic shooting disciplines alongside team and recognised non-Olympic events. Results will award 36 quota places for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with three available in each of the 12 individual Olympic events. Delivery requires several ranges and detailed procedures for firearms, ammunition, training, officiating and results under International Shooting Sport Federation rules. The championship will also serve as the first qualification event in the shooting pathway to the Games."
World Table Tennis Championships – Doha
"Doha hosted the World Table Tennis Championships from 17 to 25 May 2025 in a nine-day programme covering five events. Players competed in men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles and mixed doubles. Matches were staged at Lusail Multipurpose Hall and the Qatar University Sports Complex, with training and competition schedules distributed between the two venues. The range of events required numerous tables to operate and the simultaneous management of officiating, results and the movement of players and coaching teams. Each draw progressed through knockout rounds to the finals and the award of five world titles."
Winning the Right to Host the 2029 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship
"Qatar will host the FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship in 2029, the first edition staged in the Middle East in the competition's history of more than seventy years. Qatar was awarded the hosting rights on 26 September 2025 during the International Volleyball Federation Board of Administration meeting in Manila. The championship will involve 32 national teams, with matches to be played in Doha under the plan approved by the federation. Preparations cover competition and training arenas, transport and accommodation programmes, television operations and services for teams and officials. The host team receives a place in the finals, while the remaining participants qualify through the pathways and regulations approved for the edition."
Doha's Bid to Host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games
"Qatar has submitted its bid to host the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, with the Doha 2036 Bid Committee, chaired by H.E. Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, managing the process with the International Olympic Committee. The Qatar Olympic Committee states that approximately 95% of the required competition venues are already available, while the concept prioritises existing facilities and the completion of identified needs. The bid is aligned with Qatar National Vision 2030 and focuses on sustainability, inclusion and limiting new construction and operating costs. Work covers the Games concept, guarantees and technical and financial plans together with transport, accommodation and security."
Winning the Right to Host the 2026 and 2028 FIP Padel World Cups
"Doha will host the 2026 and 2028 FIP Padel World Cups at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex. The 2026 edition will run from 2 to 7 November with 16 men's and 16 women's national teams. The World Cup is the leading national-team competition governed by the International Padel Federation, with the men's and women's events staged within the same programme. Both editions will offer record championship prize money distributed equally between the two competitions, while courts, training, team services and officiating operate at one site. Final team lists and detailed schedules are determined through the qualification and draw procedures approved by the federation for each edition."
Qatar
olympic Glory
The Qatar Olympic Committee celebrates the athletes who have made their mark on the Olympic stage through determination, perseverance, and excellence. Their achievements have shaped Qatar’s Olympic journey and continue to inspire future generations to pursue new heights of sporting success.
Mutaz Essa Barshim
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Fares Ibrahim Hassouna
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Ahmed Tijan
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Cherif Younousse
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Mohammed Suleiman
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Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah
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Asaad Saeed Saif
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Sara Hamdi Masoud
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Abdulrahman Abdulqader
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