Countdown begins for third edition of QOC’s Team Qatar Flag Relay

DOHA, Dec 4, 2019 – The countdown for the third edition of Team Qatar's Flag Relay, to be held on December 13, began on Tuesday. The event, organised by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), is being held as part of this year's Qatar National Day (QND) celebration.The 2019 Team Qatar Flag Relay will commence early in the morning of the day from the QOC Headquarters and it will pass through the Corniche, Qatar Foundation, Katara Village and the Hamad International Airport where the flag will then be handed over to a pilot heading to Tokyo where team Qatar is due to participate in the next Summer Olympic Games- Tokyo 2020.The icon event, which will be accompanied by a number of sport events, will bring together elite athletes, schoolchildren, members from different communities and the general public who will have the opportunity to carry the Qatari flag during the relay.A number of Qatari ace athletes including World Champion Mutaz Barsham and Abdulrahman Samba have been named by the QOC as the Flag Relay Ambassadors and participants will have the opportunity of interacting with them at close quarters during the event.Registration for the event, which aims to attract over 5,000 people from different segments of the society, is already open and interested participants can register via QOC's social media platforms @Qatar_olympic.The 2019 Team Qatar's Flag relay rounds up a year of major sporting achievements for Qatar. Among the many feats recorded this year were the crowning of the national football team as the Champions of Asia at the 2019 Asian Cup in the UAE, Mutaz Barshim emerging as the new World Champion in men's high jump and Abdurrahman Samba claiming the men's 400m hurdles bronze at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha. Besides these, a number of Qatari athletes, including Barshim, Samba, Abubaker Hayder, Qatar high jumping team and shooter Mohammed Al Rumaihi, secured qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.The second edition of the Team Qatar Flag Relay, which took place last year, , including athletes and retired athletes and school students. The flag toured more than 300 kilometers across Qatar and it involved a number of sport activities including bicycles, running, swimming and others.

2019 Team Qatar’s Flag Relay draws over 5,000 participants

DOHA, December 11, 2019, Over 5,000 participants have so far registered for the third edition of the Team Qatar's Flag Relay being organized by the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) as part of the celebrations of this year's Qatar National Day on December 18.The event is now scheduled to be held over two days - Thursday, December 12 and Friday, December 13 - in view of the huge response received, which is expected to increase before registration via the link: https://www.q-tickets.com/qoc/eventlist.aspx and on QOC social media platforms #WeAreTeamQatar …..The impressive turnout and interest is coming in the wake of the successes of the two previous editions of the annual event and the keenness of the people to celebrate the country's National Day with admirable pride and fervor.A number of elite athletes, public figures and celebrities will be holding the Qatari flag early in the morning of the first day on tour of some schools, Ooredoo building before heading back to the Qatar Olympic Committee building.The Flag Relay will resume on Friday with the flag passing through the Doha Corniche, Qatar Foundation and Katara before concluding at the Hamad International Airport, where the flag will be handed over to a pilot of an airplane heading to the Japanese capital of Tokyo, preceding Team Qatar who will be participating at the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.Several sport activities have been lined up to be simultaneously held during the two-day event.A number of Qatari top athletes including World Champion Mutaz Barshim and Abdulrahman Samba have been named by the QOC as the Flag Relay Ambassadors.Team Qatar's Flay Relay rounds up a year of major sporting achievements for Qatar. Among the many feats recorded this year was the crowning of the national football team as the Champions of Asia at the 2019 Asian Cup in the UAE. Mutaz Barshim also successfully defended his men's high jump World Champion title while Abdurrahman Samba claimed the men's 400m hurdles bronze at the 2019 World Athletics Championships in Doha. Besides, a number of Qatari athletes, including Barshim, Samba, Abubaker Hayder, Qatar high jumping team and shooter Mohammed Al Rumaihi, secured qualification for the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympic Games.The 2018 edition of Team Qatar's Flag Relay had notably brought together several people from different segments of the society, including current and retired athletes of Al Adaam team, who toured more than 300 kilometers across Qatar while engaging in a number of sport activities including bicycles, running, swimming and others.

Stage set for 2019 WPA World Nine-ball Championship

DOHA, December 10, 2019 – The competitions of the prestigious 2019 WPA World Nine-ball Championship organized by the Qatar Billiard and Snooker Federation (QBSF) will get underway at Al-Arabi Sports Club in Doha on Tuesday.The seven day championship will bring together 196 players representing 45 countries who will compete for top honors.Preliminary round competitions on Tuesday day will see 112 players will fight for 12 seats scheduled in the main round.The draw of the main round competitions will be conducted by the Organizing Committee next Friday under the supervision of local and international Federations.

Qatar to Host Round 2 of Marathon Swim World Series 2020

DOHA, December 9, 2019 - Doha is prepared to hos the second round of the 10 km Marathon Swim World Series 2020 on February 15th on Doha Corniche.The Marathon Swim World Series 2020 is an 11 round championship. Round 1 is in Argentina on February 8; round 2 in Qatar on February 15; round 3 in Seychelle on May 3; Round 4 in Hungary on June 6; round 5 in Portugal on June 13; round 6and 7 in Canada on July 19 and August 8; round 8 in Macedonia on August 30; round 9 in Taipei on September 19; round 10 in China on October 16 and the final round11 in Hong Cong on October 25.In February 2019 Doha hosted last February the first round of the Marathon Swim World Series 2019 with the participation of 136 of the best swimmers in the world. Germany's Florian Wellbrock won the men's title while the women's title went to Brazil's Anna Marcela Cunha.

HH the Amir crowns the winners of 24th Arabian Gulf Cup

DOHA, December 9, 2019 - HH the Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani crowned Bahrain team as winners of the prestigious 24th Arabian Gulf Cup 2019 after they defeated Saudi Arabia team in the final match held at Abdullah bin Khalifa Stadium of Al Duhail Sports Club in Doha on Sunday.Helio Sousa-coached Bahrain have thrown surprises after surprises throughout the tournament, including sensational victories against Kuwait and Iraq, but no one thought they would reserve their best for the last, for the final, and stun Saudi Arabia to win their first-ever Gulf Cup title.Mohamed Al Rumaihi scored the winner in the 69th minute, a left-footed into the bottom corner, and that was all Bahrain needed to win the 24th edition of the Gulf Cup.Qatar Amir HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani presented the trophy to the winners, who tore down quite a few form books and reputations.Sousa, springing surprises right from his team-sheet, had another one on offer for the final as he named an entirely different 11 to that defeated Iraq in the semifnal. However, it was Saudi Arabia, unsurprisingly, who started strongly in the final at Al Duhail Stadium.Salem Al Dawsari, who came back after sitting out in the match against Qatar, was Saudi's best player in the opening period and crashed a fierce shot onto the bar in the fourth minute, with goalkeeper Sayed Jaafar well and truly beaten.In the 10th minute, Al Dawsari was again at the centre of a Saudi attack and was fouled by Jasim Al Shaikh inside the box, with referee instantly pointing to the spot.However, captain Salman Al Faraj missed a golden opportunity and fired a wild left-footer wide of the target.Bahrain were unfazed by Saudi's bright start and were looking to counter whenever they had the chance. Mahdi Al Humaidan made a strong run on the left and cut inside but his shot was straight at Saudi Arabia goalkeeper Fawaz Al Qarni a few minutes later which was Bahrain's first attempt on target.Even though Saudi saw plenty of possession in the midfield, clear cut chances were few and far between while at the other end a Bahrain move saw Kumail Al Sawad run out of space and settle for a corner which they failed to make the most of.Saudi had a penalty claim turned down by VAR at the end of the first half when Abdullah Al Hamdan fell down inside the box after minimal contact from Al Humaidan.Al Rumaihi, playing as a lone striker, was always making himself a menace for Saudi defence with his pace and physicality and was well supported on both flanks by Al Humaidan and Ali Madan.In the second half too, started well as Al Dawsari tested Jaafar from a tight angle.It seemed Saudi Arabia had a slight edge in the game with Yasir Al Shahrani regularly joining the attack on the left flank where he linked up beautifully with Al Dawsari.But Bahrain always possessed a counter-attacking threat which Saudi were wary of.And Saudi's fears were realised in the 69th when Al Rumaihi expertly finished Al Humaidan's cross with a deft left-footed shot into the bottom corner.Saudi tried their best for an equaliser, but Feras Al Bikran's scuffed shot in the 87th minute was their best opportunity. Syed Isa Hashim fouled Al Bikran just outside the box in added time, but Al Rumaihi standing in the wall received a full-blooded shot straight on his face to avert the danger.It was still a nervy end, but Bahrain somehow stood strong for their most famous victory.

Mutaz Barshim nominated for IOC athletes Commission Elections

DOHA , December 09, 2019 - The Qatar's High jumper and Olympic champion, Mutaz Essa has been nominated as a candidate on Sunday to represent Qatar in the elections of the IOC Athletes Commission. The IOC athletes Commission has been established to serve as an integral platform for athletes around the world to voice their opinions, vision and challenges, representing their respected countries. The IOC's 2020 Olympic agendas mainly focus on placing the athletes at the forefront as the perfect example representing the Olympic movement.The athletes commission consists of world and Olympic athletes selected by the athlete's national Olympic committee who is also responsible of submitting the player's candidacy file. The IOC is set to announce the nominees for the voting process via social media platforms. The candidates have the right to show their vision and aspiration in these elections through promotional campaign ran by the athletes themselves. It is essential that only the athletes themselves are responsible in promoting their campaigns without interference from their National Olympic Committees, National Federations, or any sponsoring company.This regulation is set in place to level the playing field and allow for a fair competition between nominated candidates. The athletes will keep running their promotional campaigns leading up to the 2020 Tokyo Summer Olympic Games.