Browsing: Sports
His Excellency Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Chairman of Qatar Sports Investments, Chairman of beIN Media Group, and President of Paris Saint-Germain FC, participated in the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos, Switzerland, where he addressed the growing role of sport as a driver of economic value and long-term development. HE Al-Khelaifi was a panellist at a closed-door thought-leadership dialogue titled The New Global Playbook: Athletes, Investment and the Future of Sport, hosted at the Invest Qatar Pavilion. The session brought together an elite group of investors, business leaders, athletes, and policymakers to examine how sport has evolved into a system that moves capital and builds enterprises. The panel featured a cross-section of global sporting leadership, including Tracy McGrady, NBA Hall of Famer and entrepreneur, and Cherif Younousse, Olympic medallist and leading beach volleyball athlete. The session was moderated by David Moreno Jr., global sports executive and senior partner at Norton Rose Fulbright. The discussion focused on the full lifecycle of modern sport, highlighting how today’s athletes increasingly move beyond competition into ownership, entrepreneurship, leadership, media, and cross-border ventures. This shift has expanded the definition of sporting success beyond trophies to include governance, long-term value creation, and global reach. Panellists also examined sport’s role in shaping global wellness narratives, alongside the challenge of scaling performance-driven ecosystems across markets while maintaining credibility and cultural relevance. The dialogue highlighted how Qatar and the wider Gulf region sit at the centre of this evolution, with sustained investment in teams, infrastructure, and media networks embedding the region firmly within the global sports economy through long-term strategy and institutional leadership. Drawing on Qatar Sports Investments’ experience, Al-Khelaïfi shared insights into building sustainable sports ecosystems, emphasising how aligned investment, governance, and media infrastructure are contributing to the continued growth of the global sports industry in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy. Co-hosted by Allam Global Ventures, Global Venture Partners, and Qatar Sports Investments, in partnership with TIME Africa, Rolling Stone MENA, and Robb Report Africa, the dialogue explored the positioning of sport alongside finance and technology as a significant economic force. Related Story Source link
Over the past decade, His Excellency President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani has firmly established his country’s position as a global sporting power, demonstrating a model of successful sports governance marked by achievements that combine ambition and excellence.This journey, rich in unprecedented organizational and Olympic successes, stands as a strong qualification for His Excellency to assume the leadership of the Olympic Council of Asia, he is set to officially be elected by acclamation the day after tomorrow (Monday) at the General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia in the Uzbek capital Tashkent, given he is the sole candidate.During his tenure as President of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Doha not only achieved its best-ever results in Olympic history at the Tokyo 2020 Games, but also transformed into a global capital for major sporting events. This was underscored by Qatar securing the hosting rights for the 2030 Asian Games, reflecting the high level of confidence in Qatar’s infrastructure and its forward-looking vision.His Excellency’s experience as First Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), along with his continued success in developing sports cadres through the Qatar Olympic Academy, outlines the profile of a leader equipped with the vision and tools necessary to take Asian sport to new horizons, supported by broad regional consensus looking toward distinctive Qatari leadership.HE Sheikh Joaan’s tenure represents one of the most transformative periods in the history of the Qatar Olympic Committee. Since assuming the presidency on May 7, 2015, he has become the driving force behind a new phase of development and professionalism, establishing a leadership approach aimed at achieving a qualitative leap in the country’s sports movement.Under his leadership, Qatari sport has experienced a golden era that extended beyond winning medals, drawing instead a roadmap that positioned Doha as the most prominent administrative and sporting engine in Asia and the world, while consolidating Qatar’s status as a global hub for hosting major sporting events and developing the sports sector in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.The achievements of the Qatar Olympic Committee over a decade under his leadership are rooted in a comprehensive vision aimed at building generations of athletes capable of strong international competition. Recent years have borne witness to a series of competitive and organizational successes confirming that Qatari sport is moving steadily toward global prominence.During his tenure, Qatari sport recorded its best Olympic participation in history, as Team Qatar delivered outstanding results at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, achieving a historic milestone by winning three medals for the first time: two gold medals by Mutaz Essa Barshim in the high jump and Fares Ibrahim in weightlifting, along with a bronze medal by the beach volleyball team.Throughout his leadership of the Qatar Olympic Committee, HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani played a pivotal role in making Qatar a destination for world championships and a capital of sport, reinforcing the country’s international standing.Doha became a global hub for hosting major events overseen or supported by the Olympic Committee. At the international level, Qatar hosted major championships, including the Men’s Handball World Championship (2015), the World Boxing Championships (2015), the World Athletics Championships (2019), the ANOC World Beach Games (2019), the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the World Judo Championships (2023), the World Aquatics Championships (2024), and the upcoming FIBA Basketball World Cup in 2027.At the continental and regional levels, Doha also hosted several major tournaments, most notably the AFC Asian Cup (2023), the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar (2021), the AFC U-23 Asian Cup (2024), the First Gulf Youth Games (2024), and the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar (2025). The Qatar Olympic Committee oversees numerous world-class championships and series included in the annual calendar, most notably the Diamond League in athletics, the Qatar ExxonMobil Open for men's tennis, the Qatar TotalEnergies Open for women's tennis, the Longines Global Champions Tour in equestrian sport (Al Shaqab), the Formula 1 Qatar Grand Prix, and the MotoGP Qatar Grand Prix.During the tenure of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar secured the hosting rights for a number of major sporting events, further consolidating the country's standing on the international stage. Foremost among these is the 2030 Asian Games, for which His Excellency chaired the successful bid committee, bringing the Games to Doha for a second time after the 2006 edition, as well as the 2027 FIBA Basketball World Cup, which Doha will host for the first time in the region and North Africa.The Olympic Committee's journey under His Excellency's leadership continues with a wide array of international, continental, and regional championships included in the 2026 calendar, which features 83 diverse events. Some of the most prominent highlights include hosting the World University Weightlifting Championships in September, the AFC U-18 Asian Cup for basketball also in September, and the T100 Triathlon World Championship Finals in December.His Excellency has contributed significantly to the success of many prominent and major sporting events, most notably the 2015 Men's Handball World Championship, the 2019 World Athletics Championships, the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships, and numerous rounds of international championships held annually in Doha.Since assuming office, His Excellency has focused on capacity building through intensive training and development programs implemented by the Qatar Olympic Academy, aimed at developing sports and administrative personnel, expanding access to sport, and achieving sporting excellence in line with Qatar's vision of becoming a global sports hub, with a focus on sustainability, innovation, and youth empowerment, among others.Under his leadership, the Qatar Olympic Committee launched its 2023-2030 strategy, which aims to ensure sporting excellence and build a new generation of champions through the Aspire Academy and national federations, while also promoting Olympic culture and emphasizing the role of sport in social development and building a sustainable relationship with the community.The achievements of the Qatar Olympic Committee during the tenure of HE Sheikh Joaan have extended beyond the field of play to encompass administrative and societal dimensions as well. His Excellency was elected First Vice President of the Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC) for Asia in October 2022, reflecting international confidence in Qatari leadership. He has also received several awards, most notably being named Arab Sports Personality of the Year in 2021 in recognition of his contributions to advancing sport regionally and internationally.Today, His Excellency is preparing to lead the Olympic Council of Asia in the elections scheduled for Jan. 26, as the sole candidate, a step observers view as a natural culmination of his efforts in supporting the continental Olympic movement.The accumulated achievements affirm that the journey of HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani within the Olympic Committee is not merely a record of accomplishments, but a story of a nation's ambition, one that believes sport is the shortest bridge to nation-building and connecting peoples. During his tenure, Qatari sport has witnessed a qualitative transformation, translating the unwavering support of the wise leadership into sustained success across all levels. Source link
Al Gharafa will take on Sharjah at Thani bin Jassim Stadium in the Qatari-Emirati Super Cup final Thursday, with coach Pedro Martins backing his team to rise to the challenge.Speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Martins said the match would be difficult against an experienced Sharjah side that has been performing well in the AFC Champions League, but expressed confidence in his team’s ability to deliver a strong performance and win the title.“We are fully aware of the challenge we face in this final, but we are ready and ambitious to win. We hope to produce the level required to lift the championship cup,” Martins said.He added that Al Gharafa is currently enjoying a good run of form after positive results in recent matches, which he hopes will be reflected against Sharjah.Martins noted that the technical staff had carefully studied Sharjah’s strengths and weaknesses, while also assessing their own team, stressing that the focus would be on Al Gharafa’s style of play to produce the performance needed in such an important match. He expressed hope that the Super Cup would be presented to Al Gharafa, its fans and Qatari football.The Al Gharafa coach dismissed suggestions that his side was under pressure ahead of the final, stating that the atmosphere within the squad was positive and that all players were eager to be crowned champions at this stage of the season.He also highlighted the importance of fan support, saying, “We enjoy great backing at all levels, especially from our supporters, who we expect will play a key role in this crucial encounter. We hope to make Al Gharafa fans happy by winning the championship.”Meanwhile, Al Gharafa’s Spanish forward Joselu also confirmed the team’s readiness for the Super Cup final, while acknowledging the difficulty of one-off finals.“We have prepared well for the match against Sharjah and understand how demanding finals can be, as they offer only one opportunity to win a title,” Joselu said. “We must take that chance in the right way and do everything possible to win the cup.”Joselu stressed that the match cannot be compared to league fixtures, noting that finals are decided in a single encounter, unlike the league which unfolds over several months. He added that Al Gharafa is enjoying an impressive season and is on the right path, describing a mid-season trophy as a significant achievement, with hopes of further success by the end of the campaign.The Spanish striker also called on Al Gharafa supporters to attend the match and back the team, reaffirming the players’ determination to secure the title.Drawing on his experience of playing in finals during his career in Europe, particularly with Real Madrid, Joselu said, “Finals are different from any other matches. My advice to my teammates is to enjoy the occasion and give their best. I am confident in Al Gharafa’s ability to perform well despite the difficulty of the match, and I sense great enthusiasm within the squad to achieve victory.”The Qatari-Emirati Super Cup features four matches, beginning with Al Gharafa of Qatar against Sharjah Thursday. This will be followed by the Challenge Shield match between Al Wahda of the UAE and Al Duhail of Qatar Friday, the Super Shield clash between Al Sadd of Qatar and Shabab Al Ahli of the UAE on Saturday, and concluding with the Challenge Cup match between Al Jazira of the UAE and Al Ahli of Qatar on January 25. Related Story Source link
Qatari rider Rashid Towaim al-Marri delivered a standout performance at Al Shaqab Thursday, claiming victory in the CSI5* Two Phases 1.40m class as the third round of the HH The Father Amir’s Prix got under way at Al Shaqab.Competing in his first five-star class of the championship, al-Marri produced a flawless double-clear round aboard Navaronne, stopping the clock at 26.04 seconds to secure top honours. Fellow Qatari Salman Mohammed al-Emadi finished second on Wathnan Toblerone in 26.32 seconds, while Mohammed Khalifa al-Baker completed the podium on Dukhan 3 in 26.38 seconds. “I am very happy with the performance of my horse Navarone, which earned me the title in this class,” al-Marri said. “This is my first participation in a five-star class in this championship, and I look forward to maintaining this start and competing with greater focus in the upcoming classes.” The CSI5* Faults and Time 1.50m class saw Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah al-Sharbatly emerge victorious. He also claimed third place in the The CSI5* Faults and Time 1.50m class saw Saudi Arabia’s Abdullah al-Sharbatly emerge victorious from a competitive field of 33 riders, with 13 finishing in the placings. Riding Boeckmanns Lord Pezi Junior, al-Sharbatly delivered a clear round in 64.45 seconds. Italy’s Roberto Previtali placed second on I’m Special Mess PS, while Austria’s Max Kuhner finished third aboard Eic Cooley Jump The Q.In the CSI3* Two Phases 1.40m class, Italy’s Emanuele Gaudiano topped the standings with a double clear in 25.96 seconds on Diarouge Blue PS. Britain’s Oliver Fletcher was second on Krack Bleu C, while Qatar’s Salman Mohammed al-Emadi claimed third place aboard Wathnan Higoletta.Qatari riders continued to impress in the CSI3* Special Two-Phase 1.35m class, with Nasser al-Ghazali taking first place on Heavens Light H. Faleh Suwead al-Ajami finished second on Wathnan Qapella, while al-Sharbatly came third this time on Dr Scarpo. His Excellency Sheikh…
Qatar opened their campaign in the main round of the Asian Handball Championship with a 32-25 win over Saudi Arabia Thursday. Ahmad Madadi led the scoring for Qatar with eight goals, followed by Frankis Marzo with six, while Rafael Capote and Nasreddine Megdich added four goals each. Qatar will take on Bahrain Friday, before meeting United Arab Emirates Saturday in search of a place in the semi-finals. The tournament, currently being held in Sabah Al-Salem, Kuwait, also serves as a qualifier for the World Men’s Handball Championship. Source link
UAE’s Sharjah were crowned champions of the third edition of Qatar-UAE Super Cup after defeating Al Gharafa on penalties at the Thani Bin Jassim Stadium.The match, which ended 1-1 in regulation time, saw Al Gharafa losing 5-4 during the penalty shootout, with Hyun Soo Jang missing the last kick for The Cheetahs after what had been an almost flawless kicks.The high-intensity match saw both sides wasting chances at goals in the first half. Yacine Brahimi had a glorious opportunity to give Al Gharafa an early lead in the 10th minute after pouncing on the rebound from Joselu’s thunderous strike, but Sharjah’s goalkeeper Adel al-Hosani made a superb double-save to deny the Algerian international the opportunity.Ferjani Sassi had his goal-bound header cleared on the line by Luan Pereira in the 61st minute, but the much-awaited opener eventually came three minutes later through Al Gharafa’s Florinel Coman who finished off a sublime exchange of passes initiated by Ayoub al-Oui inside Sharjah’s final third.The lead, however, only lasted for 10 minutes as Luan Pereira secured the equaliser for the Emirati side.Joselu had a great opportunity of restoring Al Gharafa’s lead two minutes later, but the Spanish striker headed straight at al-Hosani from a swerving cross by Coman.With scoring chances being few and far between from thereon, the match headed into the decisive spot kicks, which the Emirati side ended up winning. Related Story Source link
Sheikh Talal bin Khalid al-Thani, Assistant Director of HH The Father Amir’s Prix, presents the winners medal to Germany’s Christopher Klassner, who won the CSI5* 155cm…
Pep Guardiola said Manchester City are tasked with chasing down the best team in the world in Premier League leaders Arsenal as he launched a defiant defence of his players after a chastening week.City were well beaten by local rivals Manchester United last weekend before suffering one of the biggest upsets in Champions League history away to Norway’s Bodo/Glimt on Tuesday.Guardiola’s men are yet to win a league game in 2026, allowing Arsenal to open up a seven-point lead in the title race. But the City boss backed his “extraordinary” group of players to respond as they remain in contention for silverware in four competitions.”Absolutely, the best team right now in the world,” said Guardiola on the challenge of chasing down Arsenal, who have also won all seven of their Champions League matches. “So look in the Champions League, in the Premier League, look in (the) FA Cup, in Carabao Cup – it’s the best team right now. Hopefully we can be close and getting better, getting better and have the chance to catch them. I have an extraordinary team, an extraordinary group of players. And we are all together. We are a fantastic football team, I don’t have any doubts about that.”City’s dip in form has coincided with the loss of key defenders Ruben Dias and Josko Gvardiol to injury. The arrival of Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace should mitigate their absence with the England international set to make his debut against Wolves today.”It’s going to help us because the experience of Mark is exceptional,” added Guardiola. “Considering the absence of central defenders it’s really good.”Dias, Gvardiol and Nico Gonzalez remain sidelined for City, but Matheus Nunes could return after missing the last two games with a virus. Source link
Al Wahda players celebrate after winning the Qatari-Emirati Super Cup clash for the Challenge Shield. Al Duhail suffered a 1-0 defeat to Emirati side Al Wahda in the Qatari-Emirati Super Cup clash for the Challenge Shield, which was played at Al Nahyan Stadium in Abu Dhabi.Syrian striker Omar Khribin scored the only goal of the match from the penalty spot in the 29th minute. Al Duhail started the match on the front foot and looked to threaten the Al Wahda goal early on, but their task became more difficult after goalkeeper Salah Zakaria was sent off in the 10th minute for fouling Khribin outside the area.Al Wahda capitalised on their numerical advantage and opened the scoring when they were awarded a penalty following Sultan al-Brake’s foul on Oliveira. Khribin stepped up and calmly converted the spot kick.Al Duhail came close to equalising when Adel Boulbina unleashed a powerful effort from the edge of the area, but the shot was saved by the Al Wahda goalkeeper in the 39th minute.French midfielder Benjamin Bourigeaud also missed a good opportunity in the 68th minute after failing to control Al Buraik’s cross when well placed in front of goal.Khribin threatened again in the 75th minute with a header following a cross, but goalkeeper Burki made the save. The clearance sparked a counter attack for Al Duhail, with Boulbina breaking through on goal, but a delayed shot allowed the Al Wahda defence to recover and clear the danger.Al Duhail continued to press in search of an equaliser, with Boulbina firing another powerful shot from distance in the 83rd minute, only for Al Wahda goalkeeper Naif Al Hammadi to turn it behind for a corner.In stoppage time, the referee disallowed a goal scored by Boulbina after consulting VAR in the 90+3 minute, before blowing the final whistle.Sadd to face Shabab Al Ahli todayMeanwhile, Al Sadd coach Roberto Mancini confirmed that his team is fully prepared and determined to win the Super Shield title when they face Shabab Al Ahli today at Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.Mancini described the Super Shield as a final likely to be decided by fine margins, requiring maximum effort, focus, and the best possible performance from his players. He added that the match will be different from the previous meeting between the two sides in the AFC Champions League Elite group stage, which Al Sadd won, stressing that motivation will be high for both teams.Al Sadd forward Roberto Firmino said the players are eager to rise to the occasion and deliver a performance that will make the fans proud. “Finals are always exciting and competitive. I enjoy these matches and try to motivate my teammates to give extra effort to win the title, which is our main goal,” Firmino said. Source link
Qatar’s Nasser Saleh al-Attiyah and his co-driver Candido Carrera overcame two slow punctures to hold the advantage at the end of a punishing first leg of the 29th Oman International Rally today.The Autotek Skoda Fabia RS crew won five of the six gravel stages in the Hajar mountains to the north and west of Sohar and were able to build up a lead of 41.2 seconds over Oman’s Abdullah al-Rawahi and his Jordanian co-driver Ata al-Hmoud.Al-Rawahi returned to active competition for the first time since an injury last summer and he settled in well, despite a puncture on the last stage and not feeling totally ready for high-level competition.Al-Attiyah said: “We kept up the pace. Two slow punctures during the day but we tried to manage. Still a long way to go but we will try and change some things on the car now for Qatar and Jordan to try and understand a few extra things.”“Unfortunately, we had a flat tyre on the last stage,” said second-placed al-Rawahi. “We had a rock on the line. We didn’t actually make a mistake but my luck was not great. We will see tomorrow. It’s another day. We will still keep on pushing. Coming from an injury, I am not 100% ready physically but I did not want to miss my home rally.”Carnage unfolded on the second loop of the day on this opening round of the FIA Middle East Rally Championship (MERC). Hamza Bakhashab and Lorcan Moore had been in the top three until their Toyota GR Yaris ground to a halt with suspension damage after an accident in the fifth stage. Their demise lifted Nasser Khalifa al-Atya and Ziad Chehab into third at the night halt in their Motortune Ford Fiesta.The sixth stage saw the retirement of Jordan’s Sheikh Bader al-Fayez with engine problems and similar issues sidelined the two QMMF Peugeots, driven by Mohammed al-Marri and Rashid al-Muhannadi, in the same stage.A heavy impact then sidelined Ihab al-Shorafa’s Skoda on the final stage and left just eight of the 14 starters running at the end of the day. Jordan’s Shaker Jweihan and Mustafa Juma stopped at the scene of their fellow countryman’s accident and were later handed back the time lost to lead the MERC2 category in fourth overall.The Kuwaiti duo of Jassim al-Muqahwi and Sulaiman al-Helal were fifth and second in MERC2, ahead of the sixth-placed local crew of Zakariya and al-Aamri and Mohammed al-Mazroui. Jordan’s Sami Fleifel and Ibrahim Ali and Mohammed al-Shorafa and Yazan Juma survived the carnage in seventh and eighth.Today, two passes through three other stages wrap up the competition. Al-Akak (25.30km) and Yanboa (13.84km) are both similar to the specials that were used in 2025 and the last stage of the loop will be at Rahab (18.92km). Source link