Team Qatar riders to participate in Monaco leg of Longines Global Champions Tour

Monaco:  Four of Qatar’s top equestrian talents are set to compete in the eighth round of the Longines Global Champions Tour, taking place from July 3 to 5, 2025, at the iconic Port Hercule in Monaco.Renowned as one of the most glamorous and competitive stops on the international circuit, the Monaco round attracts the world’s elite riders and top-level show jumping horses. The event’s location in the heart of Monte Carlo’s famed Formula 1 arena adds a distinctive flair, merging the worlds of sport, luxury, and high society.Representing Team Qatar in this elite competition are Sheikh Ali bin Khalid Al Thani, Mohammed Al Baker, Rashid Al Marri, and Ghanem Al Qadi. Their participation underscores Qatar’s growing presence in global equestrian events and reflects the strength of the nation’s show jumping program.Riders will be vying for a prize pool exceeding two million euros, with the grand prize of 1.5 million euros to be awarded by Prince Albert II of Monaco to the overall winner.Currently topping the overall standings is Belgium’s Gilles Thomas, fresh off a major victory in the Paris round. Close behind is France’s Simon Delestre, who will also be competing in Monaco with hopes of capturing the coveted title.The 2025 Longines Global Champions Tour spans 16 global destinations, having kicked off in Doha at Al Shaqab, and continuing through Mexico City, Shanghai, Madrid, Cannes, St. Tropez, Paris, and now Monaco. The tour will proceed to cities including London, Valkenswaard, New York, Vienna, Rome, and Riyadh, before concluding with the grand finale in Prague. 

Draw held for Gulf U-16 Basketball Championship in Bahrain

The Gulf Basketball Federation, in coordination with the Bahrain Basketball Federation, has finalized preparations for the upcoming Gulf U-16 Basketball Championship, set to take place in Manama, Bahrain from July 22 to 27, 2025. The tournament will feature six teams: Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain, Oman, and Kuwait, with all games to be held at the Umm Al Hassam Sports Hall.This edition of the championship carries added significance, as both the winner and the runner-up will qualify directly for the U-16 Asian Cup Finals, scheduled for September 2025 in Mongolia.Speaking on the occasion, Saadoun Sabah Al-Kuwari, Secretary-General of both the Qatar and Gulf Basketball Federations, expressed his hopes for a successful and competitive tournament, urging teams to showcase the high level of technical ability that has come to define Gulf basketball.“We are committed to delivering an outstanding championship that reflects the progress of the sport in the region,” Al-Kuwari noted. “This event is not just a qualifying tournament, but a platform to raise standards, promote competition, and spotlight emerging talent.”He emphasized the growing stature of youth basketball in the Gulf and highlighted the collaboration with the Asian Basketball Confederation, noting that granting two direct qualification spots to the Asian Cup is a recognition of the region’s progress in youth development.“This tournament offers young players a valuable opportunity to compete at a high level and prepares national teams for future continental and international challenges,” he added.Group Draw and Match ScheduleFollowing the draw, the six teams were split into two groups:Group A: Qatar, Kuwait, UAEGroup B: Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, OmanThe competition kicks off on July 22, with Qatar facing Kuwait at 5:00 PM, followed by Bahrain vs Oman at 7:30 PM.On July 23, Qatar takes on the UAE at 5:00 PM, and Oman meets Saudi Arabia at 7:30 PM.The group stage concludes on July 24, with Kuwait vs UAE at 5:00 PM, and a final group clash between Saudi Arabia and Bahrain at 7:30 PM.July 25 will be a rest day for all teams.According to the tournament format, the top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals on July 26, with the winner of Group A facing the runner-up of Group B, and vice versa. The final matchday will determine which two teams earn a spot at the U-16 Asian Cup Finals in Mongolia. 

Team Qatar riders deliver strong performances in European show jumping competitions

Berlin: Team Qatar’s show jumping athletes continue to make their mark on the European stage with impressive performances that underscore the country’s growing stature in international equestrian sport.In Germany, Fahad bin Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani secured a commendable third-place finish in the medium tour (130 cm – against the clock) at the 2025 Herford-Lotzer International Show Jumping Championship. Riding Krokant 31, he completed the course in 59.78 seconds, earning another notable result for Qatar in European competition.Over in Hungary, Bassem Mohammed delivered a standout performance at the 2025 Budapest International CSIO3-W, taking first place in the medium tour (140 cm – against the clock). He posted a winning time of 55.41 seconds aboard Popeye de Tamise, adding another gold to Qatar’s growing collection of international show jumping accolades.These results reflect the sustained progress of Qatari riders and highlight the nation's commitment to excellence in equestrian sports at the highest level. 

Qatar Olympic Academy Wraps Up Fourth Module of Advanced Sport Management Course

Doha: The Qatar Olympic Academy has successfully completed the fourth module of its Advanced Sport Management Course, which took place over two days under the theme "Financial Management in Sports and Olympic Institutions."The module was led by Dr. Bilal Al-Salem, Professor of Accounting at Qatar University's College of Business and Economics. His sessions delved into a variety of essential financial topics, including the foundations of effective financial management, its role in ensuring institutional stability, strategic financial planning techniques, precise budgeting practices for optimal resource use, and structured approaches to financial monitoring and reporting to support informed decision-making.Highlighting the relevance of financial literacy beyond the accounting field, Dr. Al-Salem stressed that financial management is a critical leadership skill for all institutional decision-makers. He also commended the strong participation and diverse expertise of the attendees.This training module is part of the 15th edition of the Advanced Sport Management Course, which the Academy delivers in partnership with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Olympic Academy (IOA). The current cohort includes more than 45 participants, representing a broad spectrum of sectors both within and beyond the sports industry, from Qatar and other countries. 

QOC Secretary General visits the French National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance in Paris

Paris – H.E. Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain, Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), led a delegation from the QOC on an official visit to the French National Institute of Sport, Expertise, and Performance (INSEP) in Paris. The visit marked a significant step in strengthening strategic relations with leading global institutions in the fields of sports development and national team preparation.During the visit, H.E. QOC Secretary General held a meeting with Mr. Fabien Canu, Director General of INSEP where the two parties explored opportunities for the exchange of best practices, collaboration in academic and qualification programs, and technical cooperation in the areas of athlete care and performance optimization. The meeting also reviewed ways to align preparations for the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games, with both Qatari and French Olympic teams gearing up for the road ahead.The discussions covered INSEP’s key success stories in education, sports medicine, and high-performance training, and its central role in preparing France’s national teams for major international competitions.The QOC delegation also toured INSEP’s world-class facilities, including its training venues, medical centers, and athlete support services. The visit provided valuable insights into INSEP’s integrated model for nurturing Olympic and Paralympic talent, and the advanced systems in place to support athlete development across all disciplines.France’s INSEP, established in 1945 and operating under the Ministry for Sports, is regarded as the country’s benchmark institution for elite sport. It plays a central role in the national Olympic and Paralympic strategy, with nearly 50% of France’s Olympic medals attributed to athletes who train at INSEP—underscoring its vital contribution to international sporting success.The visit reaffirmed the QOC’s commitment to forging meaningful partnerships with global centers of excellence, as part of its vision to elevate the standards of sport in Qatar and support the ambitions of Team Qatar athletes on the world stage. 

Qatar Olympic Committee promotes Olympic Values on International Olympic Day

DOHA - The Qatar Olympic Committee celebrated International Olympic Day 2025 as part of its commitment to promoting the principles of the Olympic Movement and reinforcing messages of peace, love, human development, and intercultural dialogue through sport.International Olympic Day is a global celebration observed annually on June 23 by National Olympic Committees worldwide. It aims to promote physical activity and highlight the Olympic values of excellence, friendship, and respect. The day serves as a powerful reminder of the Olympic Movement’s ability to unite people across cultures through sport, while emphasizing its educational and social role in communities around the world.The origins of International Olympic Day date back to 1948, when the International Olympic Committee launched the initiative to commemorate the founding of the modern Olympic Movement by Baron Pierre de Coubertin on June 23, 1894.On this occasion, the Qatar Olympic Committee organized a swimming event for youth aged 10 to 18, featuring wide participation across five main races: 50m breaststroke, 100m butterfly, 200m individual medley, 100m backstroke, and 50m freestyle, in addition to relay races. The event was held at the Hamad Aquatic Centre.Through initiatives like this, the QOC continues to invest in developing a strong grassroots sports culture, with a particular focus on swimming. By nurturing young athletes and refining their skills, the QOC aims to prepare future national team members capable of representing Qatar at continental, international, and Olympic levels, ultimately elevating the country’s global sporting profile and fostering a culture rooted in ethics, excellence, and fair play.This year’s Olympic Day comes at a time of continued Olympic success for Qatar. The nation has so far secured a total of nine medals at the Summer Olympic Games: two gold, two silver, and five bronze, in a proud and inspiring journey that began at Barcelona 1992, when Mohammed Suleiman won Qatar’s first-ever Olympic medal with a bronze in the 1500m.In Sydney 2000, weightlifter Asaad Saeed Saif earned bronze in the 105kg category, writing his name into the country’s Olympic history. The momentum continued at London 2012, with Mutaz Essa Barshim taking silver in the high jump and Nasser Saleh Al-Attiyah winning bronze in skeet shooting. Barshim went on to capture another silver at Rio 2016, further solidifying his status as one of the world’s premier athletes.The Tokyo 2020 Games marked a golden chapter in Qatar’s Olympic story, as Barshim won gold in high jump, and Fares Ibrahim claimed gold in weightlifting (96kg). In addition, the beach volleyball duo Ahmed Tijan and Cherif Younousse earned a historic bronze medal—Qatar’s first in the sport.At the Paris 2024 Games, Barshim returned to the podium once again, securing a bronze medal in the high jump and becoming Qatar’s most decorated Olympian, with three medals across three different Games.