Qatar will truly reach the pinnacle of its rich experience in hosting major sports events over the years when it will stage the FIFA World Cup 2022. This year’s World Cup will be the first ever edition of the globe’s biggest tournament to be hosted in the Middle East and the Arab World, and will be historic in many other ways like being the most compact World Cup in modern history and for its unique sustainability features.
But Qatar’s successful journey as world’s sports hub will not end with the conclusion of the World Cup as the Gulf state would continue with its ambitions to hold the top-notch sports competitions in the future. In fact, Qatar will not rest after hosting an estimated 1.5 million fans at the FIFA World Cup as all the major events which are part of country’s annual sports calendar will be held as scheduled.
Qatar has been an important part of sports calendar of major championships in the world over the years, and has been the home to world class athletes representing different sports. The country annually hosts the MotoGP, tennis, squash, showjumping, athletics, swimming, gymnastics and table tennis events, with padel and Formula One being added to the long list last year.
Already being confirmed as the host nation for the 2030 Asian Games, Qatar is looking to stage more global, continental and regional events. Qatar also hosted the 2006 edition of the Asian Games, which is still picked among the best editions ever. The country is also in fray to host the 2023 Asian Cup where Al Annabi will defend their title they won in the UAE in 2019. The following year will see Qatar staging the 21st FINA World Championships Doha 2024, which will take place from February 2 to 18.
Qatar has successfully staged various World Championships in the past in different sports like handball, athletics and artistic gymnastics, and the experience has given the country confidence to aim for the hosting of Olympics, which is its next big target. “Dare I say it, potentially, we’re going to be bidding again for the Olympics. Our journey being the host of major events and utilising them to achieve the vision that we have, extends beyond Qatar, it includes the region, includes the globe and is ongoing,” Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi said in New York recently.
With its vast experience and state-of-the-art infrastructure, Qatar can prove itself as the best venue to host the Olympics in the future, which will be affirmed by the success of the FIFA World Cup.
