(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The Peninsula
Qatar, the 2022 FIFA World Cup hosts, has put no limit to their sporting ambitions. Despite an illegal blockade imposed on Qatar by Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Bahrain and Egypt since June 5, 2017, the Gulf state continues to create its own sporting legacy, hosting and delivering top international events just as it had been doing so since the 90s.
In fact, Qatar thrived in sports in the last three years like never before, maintaining its dominance as the top sport nation in the entire region. From hosting global, continental and regional events by leaving a lasting legacy to winning accolades at the world stage, Qatar achieved it all despite the illegal blockade. And there is no stopping as Qatar is aiming higher and bigger when it comes to future events.
Just last month, Doha threw its hat in the ring for another shot at hosting the Asian Games, this time aiming for the 2026 edition.
Fans would remember Doha put on a spectacular show of pomp and pageantry when it staged the Asian Games in 2006, hosting over 10,000 athletes and officials for the two-week sporting gala that included riveting opening and closing ceremonies at the iconic Khalifa International Stadium.
Also last month, Qatar confirmed it was also aiming to host the 2027 edition of the AFC Asian Cup, the region's biggest national team football tournament that it won after beating Japan in the title clash played on UAE soil in February 2019.
Qatar, currently busy in completing all stadiums for 2022 FIFA World Cup, has hosted the AFC Asian Cup in 1988 and 2011.
And yes, Qatar truly has world-class sporting infrastructure to bring the sports fans to Qatar for the two mega events, provided it wins the two respective bids.
The Hamad International Airport and national carrier Qatar Airways continue to rake in top aviation ratings for its world-class services, handling millions of passengers on the ground and in the air every year.
With the launch of the state-of-the-art rail transport last year in May, commuters have been connected with just about every sporting venue and tourist destination in the country. The hotel industry is just as robust, easily accommodating the thousands of visitors who arrive in Qatar every year.
It was the same story of success when Doha hosted the IAAF World Athletics Championships - the first in the Middle East - at the Khalifa International Stadium in October last year.
President of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Lord Sebastian Coe praised the role of the Supreme Organising Committee for the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019, saying: 'Qatar's edition of the World Athletics Championships was an exceptional one by all standards in terms of organisation, technical level, and high quality. I can't remember a World Championships actually that has delivered at this level for a long time. I think the tournament had another dimension in the field of sustainability, which made it a unique edition throughout the history of all the World Championships. I received the award (the IAAF bagged the Award of the Best Press Facilities which the body provided to the media during Doha 2019) for the Organising Committee in Qatar and the IAAF, and I believe it reflects the scale of achievement that we achieved together during the organisation of this tournament. We are proud of this great success and thank everyone who contributed to it with work and effort, from the work team, and we thank Qatar for providing us with all facilities.
Qatar's high-jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim clinched the historic gold medal after coming back from a career-threatening injury while Adberrahman Samba also overcame injury woes to win the bronze medal in 400m hurdles.
In December last year, football fans in the country and the region got a sneak preview of Qatar's preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup when it staged the 2019 FIFA Club World Cup from December 11 to 21.
An extra-time strike by Roberto Fermino powered Liverpool to a fighting 1-0 win over Brazilian giants Flamengo and annex their maiden FIFA Club World Cup title at the Khalifa International Stadium.
Brazilians, cheered on by some 15,000 loyal fans, who made all the noise and created a samba like atmosphere inside the stadium, could not deny Liverpool winning the trophy as Qatar concluded the first of two editions of the FIFA Club World Cup on its soil.
The two finalists Liverpool and Flamengo were joined by Qatar giants Al Sadd, Saudi powerhouse, Espérance de Tunis, Monterrey and Hienghène Sport in the 10-day event which will be held in Qatar for the second time in December this year.
During these two high profile sports events, Qatar even managed to revive the spirit of brotherhood among the Arab football family by hosting the 24th Gulf Cup at two venues - Al Janoub Stadium and Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium.
The eight-team event was won by Bahrain after a hard-fought win over Saudi Arabia in the final. The November 24 to December 6 tournament saw fans from all participating countries landing in Qatar and enjoying their favourite sport for almost two weeks.
Exactly two years prior to hosting the 24th Gulf Cup, Qatar - who had been set to host the 23rd edition in December 2017 - produced a sporting gesture and allowed Kuwait to become the host of the region's popular event after blockading countries Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Bahrain refused to participate the event on Doha soil.
In the week after the IAAF Worlds, Doha hosted the five-day ANOC World Beach Games, also known as Qatar 2019, that kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Beach side of the Katara Cultural Village in Doha on October 12. Over 1,200 athletes from 97 NOCs, representing all the five continents, featured at the event considered an 'Olympics for Beach Sports.
ANOC World Beach Games included 13 sports across 14 disciplines. Featured sports included aquathlon, 3X3 basketball, climbing bouldering, beach handball, karate kata individual, kitefoil racing, skateboarding, beach soccer, open water 5km swimming, beach tennis, beach volleyball 4X4, waterski, wakeboard and beach wrestling.
Ishaq Al Hashmi, Director of Sports Committee for the LOC of ANOC Beach Games, said: 'One of the great legacies of hosting Qatar 2019 is the benefits to beach sports in Qatar. We have beautiful beaches all around the country and I believe we'll be witnessing interests from the populace in beach sports in Qatar going forward. We've been doing well in some of the disciplines like volleyball and handball, where we've conquered the continent of several occasions, now it is the time for us to have major impacts in other disciplines as well and the competition will definitely help us in achieving that.
In November last year, Qatar hosted the 14th Asian Shooting Championships at the Losail Shooting Range where more 1522 shooters from 36 nations were in contention for 38 quota places for next year's Tokyo Olympics.
Hosts won three medals including a place in the Tokyo Games after Mohamed Al Rumaihi secured the gold in Men's Trap event as the competition heaped praise from global sport bodies for its successful organisation. The same month Qatar also hosted a blockbuster PSA World Squash Championship, with Egypt's World No.3 Tarek Momen winning the crown at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.
In October 2018, American sensation Simone Biles set the venue ablaze with her performances at the 48th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships Doha 2018, the first one of its kind to be held in the Middle East.
Biles, marking her return to international competitions after a 14-month break, secured floor gold and a bronze medal in balance beam to wrap up Doha Worlds with a total of six medals at the Aspire Academy, the world's largest indoor sports facility.
She returned home with four gold medals, one silver and a bronze medal. Over 600 gymnasts from 76 countries competed for a total of 42 medals at Doha Worlds.
FIG President Morinari Watanabe said while speaking at an impressive closing ceremony of the event: 'Doha hosted an amazing World Championships. It was a unique competition in many ways. I would like to congratulate the organisers for hosting the event successfully.
Ali Al Hitmi, the Executive Director of the Organising Committee of Doha Worlds and also President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation said: 'We have succeeded in providing an exceptionally well organised event which has exceeded expectations and the specified criteria.
FIFA World Cup venues
In the last three years, Qatar also delivered on its promise by inaugurating the renovated Khalifa International Stadium and brand new Al Janoub Stadium. Both venues were officially inaugurated by the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani in the presence of FIFA President, sports personalities, officials and football players at specially planned ceremonies that gave a glimpse into what Qatar would do to welcome the fans for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The construction of other World Cup venues are also in the advanced stages and is on track of completion well before time.
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