Joaan bin Hamad honors Ooredoo

DOHA, December 31, 2017-President of Qatar Olympic Committee HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al Thani on Friday honoured Ooredoo by presenting a 'Golden Gun' at the final round of the Hejen festival. Chief Executive Officer of Ooredoo Qatar Waleed al Sayed received the award which was given to the company in appreciation of its continued sponsorship and support for the event. Sayed thanked HE Sheikh Joaan and congratulated the organising committee for the success of the tournament.Ooredoo was a sponsor of the Festival of the Founder Hejen Championship which took place from December 19 to 29. Sayed said:"Ooredoo is a major supporter of Qatari culture, and the Hejen Racing Festival is among the most important events in Qatar's cultural calendar. This event is not only a shining example of Qatar's heritage and traditions, but boosts Qatar's sporting tourism and brings in competitors from across the region.""I would like to congratulate the Hejen Championship organising committee for another amazing event, and HE Sheikh Joaan for honouring us with this award," added Sayed.This year's event was held on Al Shahaniya track and featured a host of prized camels. As part of its sponsorship, Ooredoo gifted three luxury cars as prizes for the winners of the top three races. The Hejen festival is one of the most popular camel racing competitions in the region, and is widely participated in by sport lovers from across Qatar. Ooredoo's support for the Hejen Racing Festival is in line with the company's CSR strategy of promoting Qatar's national heritage through activities such as camel races. As an event, camel race promotes the key values of heritage, honour and competitiveness, and celebrates the history and traditions of the region.

Handball team prepare for Asian Championship

DOHA, December 31, 2017 – Qatar's handball team has intensified its training sessions in preparation for the upcoming 2018 Asian Men Handball Championship will take place from 18-28 January in South Korea.The team is performing training sessions in two periods (morning and evening) in order to maximize readiness and fitness for the prestigious Asian handball gathering.The 2018 Asian Men Handball Championship acts as a qualifying tournament for the 2019 IHF World Men's Handball Championship scheduled in Germany and Denmark.

Aspire Academy achieves new standards of excellence

DOHA, January 01, 2018 – Since foundation in 2008 Aspire Zone Academy has been working intensively to achieve its ambitious vision to turning into a reference in global sport excellence by the year 2020.Aspire staff have been working in one integrated team in coordination with Aspetar and Aspire Logistics , providing upscale world sport services every year, using distinguished approach to promote sport performance and develop skills of talented athletes.Every year through collective work , the Aspire Academy is going ahead on concrete steps to achieve its ambitious vision and become a source of inspiration for both decision-makers and athletes.The year 2017 saw a pack of unprecedented achievements for the Qatar's sport pioneering academy after receiving the best Arab sport organization award.Aspire Zone Academy pay great attention to both sport innovation and development by developing best technological facilities in cooperation local and international partners.

Qatar ExxonMobil Open to begin on Monday

DOHA, January 01, 2018 -The Qatari capital is ready to launch the new tennis season with the start of 26th edition of the hugely popular Qatar ExxonMobil Open.Offering a total prize money of $1,386,665 at the six-day tennis tournament, the courts at the Khalifa Tennis and Squash Complex will be a beehive of activity as some of the best players launch their new season in Doha this week.World No. 5 Dominic Thiem of Austria and popular Czech Tomas Berdych will be seen in action at the season's first tournament. World number 23 Albert Ramos-Vinolas, former champion Frenchman Richard Gasquet and Spain's Fernando Verdasco are also part of the 32-man field.The quarterfinals of the season-opening tournament will be played on Thursday followed by the semifinals on Friday and the all-important final on Saturday. A total of 16 teams will feature in the doubles class.The dominating 'big four' era of Roger Federer, Novak Djokovic, Rafa Nadal and Andy Murray could be coming to an end, former Wimbledon finalist Tomas Berdych said Sunday.Speaking ahead of his appearance in the year-opening tournament, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open 2018 which starts on New Year's Day, the world number 19 said men's tennis was set for a"very interesting year".Since 2010 28 of 32 Grand Slam titles were won by the quartet. Asked if the 'big four' era was over, the Czech Republic star responded:"It's hard to say right now. But yes, I think it's very possible."I'm not saying that it's over, but I think it's the nature of the process of the time and of the sport."He added that he expected other players emerging through the year to"be definitely competitive to get a chance to win a Slam".The 32-year-old was speaking after the late withdrawal from the tournament of defending champion Djokovic, who has an elbow injury.Combined with the continued injury concerns of Nadal, still recuperating from a knee problem, Murray recovering from a hip issue, as well as Federer turning 37 in 2018, the door seems open for new stars to stake their claim next year.And Berdych, 32, once a world number four, says he still harbours hope of winning a Grand Slam. "I think that's the beauty of our sport that no matter where you are, you still have a big chance.It's about that particular day, and from that one day you can create a great week. "From one great week, you can make it two and that's what you are looking for. "To be honest, that's the only reason why I'm still around."A semi-finalist in the past two years in Doha and seeded three this time round, he begins his quest for the title against Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff. Djokovic has been replaced as number one seed by Austria's Dominic Thiem, who begins against Evgeny Donskoy of Russia.

Stage set for 3x3 Basketball Tournament at QOC’s winter camp

DOHA, January 1, 2018- The organizing committee of the QOC's winter camp held a press conference on Saturday to brief media on the 3x3 Basketball Tournament to be staged on Friday, January 5, 2018. Rashid Adiba, Acting Head of the QOC's Athlete Development and Technical Staff Unit and Yasseen Ismail, Director of the 3x3 Basketball Tournament attended the press conference. Rashid Adiba stressed that the 3x3 Basketball Tournament will be one of the sports competitions to be held during the QOC's winter camp. Yasseen Ismail said that the tournament will feature the participation 8 teams representing the different communities in the state of Qatar including Egypt, Jordan, Philippines (1) and Indonesia in Group (A) while Group (B) includes Qatar, Philippines (2), Lebanon and India. Sponsored by Seashore Group and Kahramaa, and in partnership with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, the Winter Camp contains a multitude of activities including beach volleyball, football and basketball areas, a laser field, a kids' zone with inflatable slides, swings and games, pony rides, and an arcade dome with table tennis, billiards, video games and more. Alongside the various sporting activity options the Winter Camp also plays host to an entertainment area and theatre with plays, musical performances, shows and exciting give-aways, much of which will this year be provided by Kahramaa. In addition to the sporting activities and entertainment, the Winter Camp includes a food and beverage area to re-energise, relax and unwind after a busy day or whilst the more energetic family members participate in the activities.

Mohammed Al Modiahki shines in World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships

Riyadh, December 30, 2017- Qatar's Mohammed Al Modiahki recorded some good results in the first day of the 2017 World Rapid and Blitz Chess Championships being held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Al Modiahki played 11 matches and collected 5.5 points. Moreover, Mohammad Nasser Al Sayed also claimed 5.5 points while Zhu Chen got 6 points. Hamad Al Tamimi, Executive Director of the Qatar Chess Association said that the Qatari players are looking forward to make positive results in Saturday's competitions.