QOA Launches 13th Edition of Advanced Sport Management Course

DOHA,  - The Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) announced Wednesday the opening of registration for the 13th edition of the Advanced Sport Management Course, an annual program offered in partnership with the International Olympic Committee. The QOA was selected by the IOC to be among the first 20 Olympic committees in the world and the first Gulf and Arab Olympic committee to implement this program, which was first launched in 2008. Since its inception, more than 500 students from inside and outside the country have taken part in the program. The diploma extends over seven semesters over seven months, at a rate of three days per month. The graduates are granted certificates signed by IOC President Thomas Bach and HE Second President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani. Those enrolled in the diploma are subject to several conditions, at top of which is obtaining a bachelor's degree in any discipline, or passing the two courses of Principles of the Olympic Movement in the Sports Organizations (level 1), as well as the course of Modern Management of Sports and Olympic Institutions (level 2). These courses are annually evaluated by the QOA to provide the opportunity for the largest number of those wishing to join the program, which witnesses a great turnout every year. For his part, Executive Director of the Qatar Olympic Academy, Khalil Ibrahim Al Jaber expressed pride for the launch of the 13th edition of the program, which is considered one of the most important programs of the Qatar Olympic Academy and one of the main pillars of the academys calendar every year. The launch of the 13th edition proves the success of the program and the strength of its academic content, in addition to its great importance, which reflects positively on the learners, whether they work in the administrative or technical side, Al Jaber said. He further hailed the diploma and its qualifying courses as among the most important programs that workers in the sports field must be keen to attend.

Qatar’s Younousse and Tijan retain World No.3 ranking

Doha: Qatar’s beach volleyball stars Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan retained their World No. 3 spot in the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) ranking. The new list released placed Younousse and Tijan, who claimed the bronze medal of Tokyo 2020 Olympics, right at the third place with 6950 points behind Anders Berntsen Mol and Christian Sandlie Sørum of Norway in the first place with 7910 points while Piotr Brouwer/Meeuwsen of the Netherlands claimed the third place with 7220 points. Cherif Younousse and Ahmed Tijan have claimed the title of 2022 Asian Senior Men’s Beach Volleyball Championship held in Bandar Abbas, Iran last November after beating Christopher McHugh/Paul Burnett of Australia in the final match.

Egypt defeat Qatar in Handball Friendly

Cairo, Egypt, December 21  - The Qatari national handball team lost to its Egyptian counterpart with a score of 18/21 in the friendly match that brought them together Tuesday in Cairo, in preparation for the 28th Men's Handball World Championship to be hosted by Poland and Sweden from January 11 to 29, 2023. The first half ended with Egypt leading 11/7, the two teams are scheduled to meet in a second test match on Thursday. The two matches are part of a number of trial matches for the Qatari national team in preparation for the World Championship, where it also played two matches with the Tunisian national team last October, and will play two more matches with the Montenegro national team on January 3rd and 5th in Doha. The draw of the World Championship placed the Qatari national team in Group E, along with the national teams of Germany, Serbia and Algeria, while Group A included Spain, Montenegro, Chile and Iran, Group B France, Poland, Saudi Arabia and Slovenia, Group C Sweden, Brazil, Cape Verde and Uruguay, Group D Iceland, Portugal, Hungary and South Korea, while Group F included Norway, North Macedonia, Argentina and the Netherlands, Group G Egypt, Croatia, Morocco and America, and Group H Denmark, Belgium, Bahrain and Tunisia. The Qatari national handball team qualified for the 2023 World Championship after topping the ranking of the Group A in the main round of the 20th Asian Men's Handball Championship held in Saudi Arabia last January, and the Qatari national team was crowned its title for the 5th time in a row after winning the final match against the Bahraini national team with a score of 29/24. The Qatari national team is participating in the World Championship for the 9th time in its history after Portugal 2003, Tunisia 2005, Germany 2007, Spain 2013, Qatar 2015, France 2017, Germany and Denmark 2019, and Egypt 2021, where it achieved second place in the Qatar 2015 edition as its best result in the history of its participation in the World Cup.   

HH the Amir attends closing ceremony of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022

Doha, December 18 (QNA) - HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani attended on Sunday evening the closing ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at Lusail Stadium. The ceremony was attended by HH the Father Amir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HH the Personal Representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani, HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al-Thani, HE Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, HE Speaker of the Shura Council Hassan bin Abdullah Al Ghanim and a host of Their Excellences Sheikhs and ministers. The ceremony was also attended by HM King of Malaysia Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, HE President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, HE President of the Federal Republic of Somalia Hassan Sheikh Mohamud, HE President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, HE President of the Republic of Rwanda Paul Kagame, HE President of the Republic of Namibia Hage Geingob, HE President of the Togolese Republic Faure Gnassingbe, HE President of the Republic of Kenya William Ruto, HE President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sadyr Japarov, HE President of the Republic of Tatarstan Rustam Minnikhanov, First Lady of the Republic of Madagascar Mialy Razakandisa Rajoelina, HE Prime Minister of the Republic of Iraq Mohammed Shia Al Sudani, HE Prime Minister of Hungary Viktor Orban, HE President of Kurdistan Region in Iraq Nechirvan Barzani, HE Minister of Transport and Representative of Canada's Prime Minister Omar Alghabra, HE the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, along with the heads of Olympic committees and federations, Their Excellencies heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the country, senior sports officials, and a large masses of fans.  

HH the Amir crowns Argentina FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 champions

Doha, December 18 (QNA) - HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani crowned the Argentina national football team the winners of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar after their 4-2 victory on penalties over France in the final match at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday evening. HH the Amir and HE President of FIFA Gianni Infantino handed over the gold medals to the players of the Argentine national team. HH the Amir, HE President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron, and HE President of FIFA Gianni Infantino handed over the silver medals to the players of the French national team, the runners-up of the championship. Also, His Highness handed the World Cup best player award to Argentina's Lionel Messi. The final match and the coronation ceremony were attended by HH Personal Representative of HH the Amir Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al-Thani. It was also attended by a number of Their Majesties, Excellencies, heads of state and heads of delegations of the sisterly and friendly states, Their Excellencies Sheikhs, ministers, heads of Olympic committees and federations, Their Excellencies heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the state, senior sports officials and a large audience of fans. (QNA)  

Sheikh Joaan hands over Hosting Mantle for 2026 World Cup to Canada, Mexico, US

Doha, December 18 (QNA) - HE President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani handed over on Sunday evening the hosting mantle of the FIFA World Cup 2026 to HE Canadian Minister of Transport Omar Alghabra, HE President of the Mexican Football Federation Yon de Luisa Plazas, and HE the US Representative to the United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield, in the presence of HE FIFA President Gianni Infantino. The official handover ceremony took place after the final match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at the Lusail Stadium on Sunday evening. On this occasion, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani expressed his happiness for the success of the State of Qatar in organizing an exceptional edition of the World Cup for the first time in the Middle East. He expressed his wishes that Canada, Mexico and the US will organize a successful World Cup edition in 2026. His Excellency affirmed the readiness of the State of Qatar to present its expertise and experience in hosting the FIFA World Cup, especially in terms of equipment to enhance the role of sport in bringing cultures closer and uniting the peoples of the world. (QNA)