QOC Announces Updated Calendar of Sport Events

DOHA, August 18 , 2020 –Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) announced the updated calendar of sport events for the year 2020.The calendar included the amendment of the dates of some international sporting events scheduled for this year. This includes the Diamond League for athletics which will be held on September 25, the second Qatar Men's International Tennis Federation Championship from 12 to October 18, the third Squash Federation Championship from October 18 to 21, the third Qatar Men's International Tennis Federation Championship from October 19 to 25, the first Qatar Youth's International Tennis Championship from October 26 to October 31, the Qatar Classic World Squash Championship from November 1 to 7, the second Qatar Youth's International Tennis Championship from November 2 to 7, the 3x3 World Basketball Tour from November 20 to 21, the fourth Qatar Men's International Tennis Federation Championship from December 7 to 13, the fourth Professional Squash Championship from December 10 to 14, and the fifth Qatar Men's International Tennis Federation Championship from December 14 to 20.A number of international tournaments have been postponed to next year, namely the Davis Cup, the 13th Artistic Gymnastics World Cup (men and women), and the table tennis final qualifiers and qualifying for the Tokyo Olympics. Two tournaments at the GCC level were also postponed, including the twenty-eighth GCC Aquatics Championship, and the GCC basketball clubs championship.The updated calendar also added the Doha 2020 ASTC Triathlon Asian Cup which will be held on December 4 and 5.As for local sport event, the Qatar volleyball cup final will be held on September 30, the Qatar basketball cup final on October 13, the Qatar handball cup final on October 14, HH the Amir volleyball cup final on October 16, HH the Amir handball cup final on October 20, and HH the Amir basketball cup final on October 28.The QOC adheres to the precautionary measures issued by the Ministry of Public Health to limit the spread of the Coronavirus in all tournaments and sporting events for the safety of the athletes and participants. For the Calendar click here

QOC Secretary General attends GCC Olympic Committees Workshop

Doha, July 7, 2020- The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Secretary General HE Mr. Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain today attended the workshop of the GCC Olympic Committees Secretaries General organized by the GCC Secretariat General by videoconference to discuss the effects of Coronavirus pandemic on the sports sector at the GCC nations.During the workshop, the QOC Secretary General thanked the GCC Secretariat General for holding this workshop to focus lights on the effects of Coronavirus pandemic on the GCC sports sector and wished the meeting achieve its goals.The meeting also discussed the measures taken by the GCC nations and effects of Coronavirus pandemic on sports activities and Olympic movement in general.Moreover, the GCC Secretaries General reviewed the means to tackle the current and expected challenges of the pandemic, as well as arrangements for the return of sports activities at the national, GCC and international levels.The workshop came up with a number of recommendations and suggestions, to be submitted to the Council of Presidents of the GCC National Olympic Committees at their next meeting.

Team Qatar athletes take Coronavirus tests

Doha, July 7, 2020-The athletes and supporting staff of Qatar's national teams took Coronavirus (COVID-19) tests on Sunday and Monday at Ali bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in preparation of gradual sports activities resumption.On Sunday, the Swimming, Cycling, Taekwondo, Shooting, Basketball, Handball, Table Tennis and Gymnastics national teams took coronavirus tests while Tennis, Athletics, Golf, Weightlifting, Wresting, Volleyball, Equestrian, Rugby, Hockey, and Cricket national teams underwent the same medical examination on Monday.Mr. Ishaq Al Hashimi, Head of the QOC Sports Federations Section said this step coincides with the approaching date of the gradual return to practice sports activities in the country.Al Hashimi thanked the sports federations for their cooperation with the QOC and lauded the preventive measures taken by the State of Qatar to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

QOC begins necessary medical examinations for Team Qatar athletes

Doha, July 05, 2020 – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) today announced beginning the necessary medical examinations for Team Qatar athletes and the supporting staff in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Health (MOPH) in preparation of gradual sports activities resumption.The QOC pointed out that this step coincides with the approaching date of the gradual return to practice sports activities in the country.On May 17, the QOC announced the extension of suspending local sporting activities and competitions until the current July, to resume the remainder of the sporting activity for the season 2019-2020 as of July 20.The QOC stated, then, that the decision came in line with the preventive measures taken by the State of Qatar to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), and in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health to ensure the safety of all athletes, supporting staff and fans.

Qatar formally bid to host 2027 AFC Asian Cup

Doha, July 1, 2020-(QNA)-The Qatar Football Association (QFA) has officially announced its bid to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup after the Asian Football Confederation closed the bid process for the said event.Qatar is one of the five bids presented to the AFC.The other four Member Associations who have bid to stage Asia's premier football tournament are All India Football Federation, Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran, Saudi Arabian Football Federation, and Uzbekistan Football Association.After the continental football body announces the start of receiving the bid files, QFA will send an integrated file to complete the process from its side.The AFC will now work with each Bidding Member Association on the delivery of the necessary bidding documentation in accordance with the bidding process and will announce the host for the 19th edition of the AFC Asian Cup in 2021.It is expected that the QFA bid file will detail the love of football in the country and the lasting legacy it possesses when it comes to hosting the top football events.Qatar is ahead of schedule with its preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.On this occasion, Mansoor Al Ansari, Secretary-General of the QFA, said: "We present Qatar's bid to win the rights to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup. Our bid confirms the great desire to follow major sporting events, which Qatar is conducting with great successes for over two decades now. Qatar's next big assignment is the 2022 FIFA World Cup and we are preparing well for the event."Al Ansari said that Qatar will be ready to host the 2027 AFC Asian Cup, taking advantage of the modern sports facilities that it has in the country. He added that the world-class sporting infrastructure in Qatar is a sound legacy for future football generations in the Asian continent.The QFA Secretary-General stressed that Qatar has a proven track record in hosting world and continental sports championships. He said Qatar is confident it will be able to host a spectacular edition of the 2027 Asian Cup, an event it has hosted twice in 1988 and 2011.He added Qatar is currently preparing to stage biggest the footballing event - the FIFA World Cup - in 2022.The QFA high ranking official said Qatar is ahead of schedule with its large-scale preparations to stage the FIFA World Cup, saying the event will bring the football fans together for 'unforgettable experience' (QNA).

QOC Celebrates Olympic Day 2020

Doha, June 24, 2020- (QNA) – The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) celebrated the Olympic Day 2020, which falls on June 23 of each year, the date when the International Olympic Committee was created in 1894.The Olympic Day of this year was celebrated, remotely, by exercising with some of the best athletes in the world on social media platforms in light of the exceptional circumstance the world is going through, due to the Coronavirus (COVID-19).The QOC, along with the rest of the National Olympic Committees, participated during the Olympic Day 2020 in the campaign of the International Olympic Committee to promote Olympic and sports activities that were launched last March under the slogan "Stay healthy, Stay strong, Stay active".HE President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani stressed that QOC is keen to celebrate the Olympic Day annually within the framework of celebrating the anniversary of the founding of the International Olympic Committee, and to spread the principles and values of the Olympic movement, which aims to encourage all groups of society to practice sports activities.His Excellency added that the celebration of this year's Olympic Day was different from previous years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, without this constituting an obstacle to achieving the desired goals.For his part, HE Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said that the celebration of the Olympic Day 2020 remotely reflects the importance of this day and its mission aimed at enhancing awareness of the importance of exercise and its role in the lives of individuals and societies.HE Al Buenain pointed out that the Olympic Day also falls within the framework of many community activities and programs that the Qatar Olympic Committee organizes annually in an effort to spread the Olympic principles and broaden participation among members of society.Squash champion Abdullah Al Tamimi also expressed his happiness at participating in the Olympic Day 2020, and said that the participation of athletes from all over the world on the Olympic Day this year enhances its importance and inspires everyone to follow their example and exercise because of its great importance to public health.For his part, Mohamed Al Rumaihi, a Qatari shooter who qualified for the Olympic Games said that the Olympic Day contributes to enhancing awareness of the importance of practicing sports and spreading the principles and values of the Olympic Movement among the various groups of society. (QNA)