Qatar to take on Afghanistan in Joint Qualifiers for 2022 World Cup and AFC Asian Cup

Doha, September 5, 2019- Qatar will take on Afghanistan on Thursday at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium in the second round of the joint qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar and 2023 AFC Asian Cup in China.Qatar won the AFC Asian Cup for the first time in its history, which was held in the UAE earlier this year after beating Japan (3-1) in the final.Thursday's confrontation with Afghanistan marks the real start of preparations for Qatar 2022 World Cup, which is being held for the first time in Qatar in the Middle East.Qatar is in Group E, which also includes Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Oman and India.Qatar will meet India at Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on September 10.

Local Organising Committee holds media workshop ahead of Doha 2019 World Championships

Doha, September 5, 2019-The Local Organising Committee (LOC) of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 are expecting more than 2,000 media personnel from more than 500 media outlets across the world, including broadcasters and television personnel, when the track and field stars descend on the Qatari capital later this month.The championships that will be held from September 27 to October 6 will see a participation of more than 2000 athletes from around the world aiming glory at the state-of-the-art Khalifa International Stadium, with marathons and road walking events to be held at the iconic Corniche at night.To ensure maximum coverage from some of the most prestigious media outlets locally and internationally, the LOC held a workshop at the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) headquarters recently to outline the facilities and details for the media.Abdullah al-Mulla, Media and Broadcasting director at the LOC, said that the Media Committee is putting the final touches to ensure optimum media coverage, with some of the biggest names in world media, including DPA, Reuters, AFP, Xinhua and BBC, expected to come to Doha.“The preparations are well underway and I think we are finalising the requirements of the international media, whether through field coverage by equipping journalists and photographers or by preparing the huge media centre that will open its doors days before the start of the championships," he said.The LOC has set up media centres near the Khalifa International Stadium and the Corniche, with top class facilities for journalists.On the other hand, Fanzone will honour different cultures as athletes from more than 200 countries will take part in the Middle East's biggest ever sporting eventAs the eyes of the sporting world focus on Qatar, the country's iconic Khalifa International Stadium is being transformed into a global community, with a vibrant World Athletics Village preparing to welcome spectators during the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.Athletes from 213 countries will compete in the ten-day competition as Doha will host the Middle East's biggest ever sporting event, with fans able to experience cultures from across the world, in the World Athletics Village which is the first ever sporting fan zone in Qatar to celebrate communities across the globe.Spectators will be treated to a whole host of activities with performers including dance acts from different communities as well as an opportunity to meet and greet with athletes post competition.The cultural celebration will seethe Village divided into areas which represent Africa, North and South America, Europe and Asia, with areas decorated in themes of each country, serving different food, entertainment and prize giveaways.Speaking of the spectator experience, Sheikha Asma Al-Thani, Director of Marketing and Communications for the Local Organising Committee, commented:“The IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 is a celebration not only for Qatar, but for sports fans across the globe. It is an event which gives perfect platform to unite communities and cultures from across the world and that is the aim of the World Athletics Village.“It gives an added experience to fans of all ages attending the competition, celebrating diverse communities through a delicious range of cuisines, throughout to a variation of live entertainment that people can join in with.“I encourage everybody to visit the World Athletics Village and join in with the fun and celebrations alongside athletics fans from a whole host of different countries."The World Athletics Village will be open to welcome guests from 5.00pm daily, with entry free of charge on the day to anybody with a ticket to the competition that evening.Fans can buy tickets online now to ensure that they don't miss out on any of the competition of the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, which runs from Friday 27 September to Sunday 6 October. The easy online process begins here: https://iaafworldathleticschamps.com/doha2019/Spectators can share their photos and fun from the World Athletics Village online by following the official channels @IAAFDoha2019 and #AimBeyond

QOC course on building effective skills for administrative teams concluded

DOHA, September 4, 2019 - The Human Resources and Administrative Affairs Department at Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) concluded a productive training course titled " How to build effective teams and develop their administrative skills " at the QOC's Losail hall on Tuesday.The three day training course brought together 21 employees from Talents Department who have received valuable lectures on how to build leading and effective teams and develop their administrative skills, team work spirit and responsibilities of team leader.The course key speaker , Dr. Suhail Awaad provided the trainees with the secrets behind the successful teams and how to decide the needs of any team.

FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Official Emblem Revealed

DOHA, September 04, 2019- The Official Emblem of the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup was unveiled yesterday as FIFA and host country Qatar reached another major milestone on the road to the world's greatest football showpiece.The official unveiling took place in Qatar's capital, Doha, at 20:22 local time, with thousands of spectators witnessing the synchronized projection of the emblem onto a number of the country's most iconic buildings, including Burj Doha, Katara Cultural Village Amphitheatre, Ministry of Interior, Souq Waqif and Msheireb and Al Zubarah Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage site.A number of Arab countries such as Kuwait, Oman, Lebanon, Jordan, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, Iraq, Palestine, Libya and Sudan participated in the unveiling event, where it was displayed on facades of buildings and landmarks of these countries as the Kuwait Towers in Kuwait City, the Raouche Rock in Lebanon, the Fort of Hammamet in Tunisia and others.A number of major cities around the world are also celebrating the milestone, with images of the emblem seen on renowned locations and outdoor billboards in prominent public spaces. Some of the world's best-known footballers and FIFA World Cup legends are also taking to social media to support the launch and share the emblem with their millions of fans online.The emblem's design embodies the vision of an event that connects and engages the entire world, while also featuring striking elements of local and regional Arab culture and allusions to the beautiful game.The swooping curves of the emblem represent the undulations of desert dunes and the unbroken loop depicts both the number eight a reminder of the eight astonishing stadiums that will host matches and the infinity symbol, reflecting the interconnected nature of the event. Besides echoing the shape of the iconic FIFA World Cup Trophy, the emblem's central form takes inspiration from a traditional woolen shawl. During winter months, shawls are worn around the world and in the Arab and Gulf region in particular by a variety of people and in various styles.The intricate embroidered detail that often adorns shawls in the Arab world is featured and takes inspiration from various cultures across Asia, celebrating the continent's second hosting of a FIFA World Cup tournament and Qatar's diverse population. The regionally inspired winter garment also alludes to the tournament's start dates and the fact that it will be the first FIFA World Cup to be played in November and December.The new typeface created to accompany the emblem reimagines traditional Arabic calligraphy in a new, contemporary font, taking inspiration from the region and Asia, and fusing tradition with modernity.The emblem is just one example of the bold, modern tournament designs that will be revealed in the run-up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. In May 2019, the striking Al Janoub Stadium modelled after the traditional dhow boat used in the region and the second venue to be ready hosted its first match in May this year and demonstrates the host country's grand vision to create iconic designs.The remaining six venues are scheduled to be completed before the end of 2020, including the spectacular lantern inspired Lusail Stadium, which will host the opening match on 21 November, as well as the final on 18 December 2022.

Team Qatar to participate in GCC Aquatics Games in Kuwait

DOHA, September 3, 2019 – Team Qatar is preparing to participate in the 27th edition of GCC Aquatics Games 2019 will get underway in Kuwait on Thursday.Team Qatar delegation is chaired by Mr. Ahmed Al Nimah, Assistant Secretary General of Qatar Swimming Association, Ibraheem Al Rumaihi, team director, Nasser Al Suqairi, Administrator, alongside technical staff members and 29 swimmers.Team Qatar had performed international training camp from 12-30 August in Romania in preparation for the GCC Aquatics Games 2019.

Anti Doping Commission Chief confirms all arrangements are finalized for 2019 IAAF World Athletics Championships

DOHA, September 3, 2019 – Mr. Nasser Saad Aman Al Saad, Head of Anti Doping Commission at IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 has confirmed on Monday that the commission finalized all technical and managerial arrangements to perform its challenging task at the global athletics event will run from September 27 to October 6 in Doha amid international participation."Preparations are underway , we have around 200 staff members in the committee working in all time, ready to use top doping testing electronic techniques to serve the event" said Mr. Saad." As local national anti doping committee, we are keen to provide ideal environment for athletes during testing processes by using regular testing procedures" added Saad.Mr. Nasser Saad Aman Al Saad also underscored that Qatar Anti Doping Commission (QADC) always works diligently behind the scenes in different international and local championships hosted by State of Qatar.Mr. Saad also expressed his gratitude and thanks to HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, the President of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and Chairman of Higher Organising Committee of IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 for his confidence and support on Qatari young sport officials.