Qatar Sport

Doha, Qatar: Lusail International Circuit (LIC) commenced the 2026 MotoGP Qatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar on Friday, November 6, 2026, running until November 8 and marking the 22nd edition of MotoGPat LIC since the circuit first hosted the championship in 2004. This season is the last under the current 1000cc engine regulations, adding extra significance to every round, including LIC’s night race. The first day consisted of practice sessions for all categories including the Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup. In Moto4 Free Practice 1, Kotaro Togashi from Japan topped the timesheets with 2’10.930, with Qabil Irfan from Malaysia second with 2’11.596 and Bintang Pranata from Indonesia completing the top three with 2’11.904. The Moto3first free practice saw Maximo Quiles from CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team deliver the fastest lap at 2’04.143, followed by Joel Kelso from GRYD Racing at 2’04.936 and Marco Morelli from CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team with 2’04.992. In the Moto2™ first free practice, Daniel Holgado from CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team set the pace with 1’56.784, followed by Celestino Vietti from BETA Tools SpeedRS Team at 1’56.923 and Izan Guevara from BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 at 1’56.970. Later in the day, the MotoGP™ first free practice was led by Marc Marquez from Ducati Lenovo Team, who recorded the fastest lap at 1’52.278. Following closely were Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia Racing at 1’52.388 and Fabio Di Giannantonio from Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team at 1'52.691. In the second free practice of Idemitsu Moto4 Asia Cup, Kotaro Togashi from Japan topped the timesheets with 2’10.192, while Qabil Irfan from Malaysia came second at 2’10.411 and Noprutpong Bunprawes from Thailand finished third at 2’10.436. During the break between track sessions, the first 200 fans to enter joined this year’s Autograph Session, giving them the opportunity to meet and collect signatures from star riders with the likes of Marc Marquez, Pecco Bagnaia, Maverick Viñales, Franco Morbidelli, Pedro Acosta, and many more. The Moto3Practice once again saw Maximo Quiles from CFMOTO Gaviota Aspar Team set the fastest lap at 2’03.172, followed by Liqui Moly Dynavolt Intact GP’s David Almansa at 2’03.372 and David Muñoz at 2’03.443. In the Moto2Practice, Daniel Holgado from CFMOTO Power Electronics Aspar Team KALEX claimed the top spot once again with 1’55.897, followed by Filip Salac at 1’56.096 and Izan Guevara from BLU CRU Pramac Yamaha Moto2 at 1’56.136. To conclude the day’s track action, the MotoGP™ Practice delivered a historic moment as Fabio Di Giannantonio from Pertamina Enduro VR46 Racing Team set a new all-time lap record at LIC with 1’50.406. Marc Marquez from Ducati Lenovo Team followed closely at 1’50.548, with Marco Bezzecchi from Aprilia Racing third at 1’50.666. Away from the track, the MotoGPFan Zone at LIC welcomed spectators with interactive entertainment, children’s activities and a diverse selection of food and beverage options. Visitors also explored the Cultural Village, which celebrates Qatar’s heritage through traditional crafts, henna, spices, oud demonstrations and Dahrooi, a traditional Qatari game. The MotoGPQatar Airways Grand Prix of Qatar 2026 promises exciting action over the next two days. Saturday will feature qualifying sessions, the Moto2and Moto3Hero Walk, The MotoGPTissot Sprint and BMW M Laps. For the first time, the MotoGPFan Zone at Lusail International Circuit (LIC) will feature a dedicated podium for the Tissot Sprint, bringing the celebration of Saturday’s race straight to the fans. Fans can be part of the moment, with the atmosphere of the podium celebration extending beyond the track and into the heart of the Fan Zone. Sunday will feature the MotoGPHero Walk and Talk Show, the Moto3and Moto2races and the Opening Ceremony, ahead of the 22-lap MotoGPGrand Prix. Tickets are available for QAR 200 and include access to all three days of racing, and can be purchased at tickets.lcsc.qa.

Qatar Sport

Doha: The 45th Arab Golf Championship for men and women got under way at Doha Golf Club on Friday, with 72 players from 14 countries set to compete for individual and team honours. Hosted by the Qatar Golf Association, the competitions begin on Saturday and continue until Tuesday. The opening ceremony featured a parade of the participating teams and was attended by Adel Al-Fayyad, Vice President of the Arab Golf Federation, Hamad Abdullah Al-Mana, President of the Qatar Golf Federation, and Fahad Al-Nuaimi, Secretary General of the Qatar Golf Federation, along with officials and heads of the participating delegations. The tournament is being held in Qatar for the first time, marking another important occasion for the country’s growing golf programme. Al-Nuaimi welcomed the participating teams and said Qatar was proud to host the prestigious championship. He also highlighted the long history of the event, which was first held in Lebanon in 1975 and has since provided a platform for leading Arab golfers to compete against one another and develop their standards. Al-Fayyad described the championship as one of the region’s leading golf events, bringing together some of the best Arab players while helping strengthen sporting ties between the participating countries. He also praised Qatar’s facilities and organisational capabilities, saying they provided a strong setting for the championship. The men’s field consists of 51 players representing 14 countries, while 21 players from nine countries will compete in the women’s event. The Qatar team has completed its preparations at Doha Golf Club and will be looking to make a strong showing on home soil in both the individual and team competitions.

Football

Berlin: In October, Bundesliga club Borussia Dortmund did something not just out of step with modern football, but with modern life: they asked fans to put their phones away. Ahead of last month's match with Eintracht Frankfurt, Dortmund launched a scheme which rewarded supporters for not using their smartphones during games at their 82,000-capacity Westfalenstadion. By switching on 'fan mode' in the Dortmund app, supporters who kept off their phones were awarded points and could win prizes, including signed jerseys and fan shop vouchers. But while the scheme likely seems odd, particularly for international fans, it has been warmly received in Germany, where the matchday experience remains sacred to millions of fans. 'Significant positive feedback' German football's unique governance rules -- which restrict external investment by requiring clubs to be member-owned -- have helped preserve the stadium experience lost elsewhere. With fans playing a role in club decisions, preserving this experience remains paramount. Season tickets at Bayern Munich, the defending German champions, start at 180 euros ($200) for 17 home Bundesliga games. By contrast, the cheapest season ticket for English champions Arsenal cost £978 ($1,309) for 19 home matches. Dortmund are not the only club to try and curb in-game phone usage. Second division sides Hertha Berlin and Dynamo Dresden also implemented restrictions this season. The Hertha and Dynamo schemes have primarily sought to prevent the growing trend of influencers filming and monetising in-stadium content, but are also targeted at preserving the experience of being in the crowd. Sporting organisations across the globe have grappled with what to do about influencers during major events. Some see it as a useful source of promotion, but others fear it detracts from the overall experience, while it can violate lucrative broadcast arrangements. In response to dozens of incidents at the 2026 US Open tennis tournament, Wimbledon has decided to ban so-called content creators from 2027. Hertha told AFP their scheme had tried to tackle the "fundamental question of how we deal with external video productions in our stadium". Like Hertha, Dynamo said the policy was partially motivated by a need to protect broadcaster rights, but was also directed at preserving matchdays for everyone. "The atmosphere and support of the team should be in the foreground for the stadium visit," Dynamo told AFP, while adding the project "received significant positive feedback from fans." 'Scream and stream' Dortmund chairman Carsten Cramer said the policy preserves what makes the club special. "It is a very unique approach. It's how to attract people, to tell them, 'hey, it's not a concert where you scream and stream video sequence by video sequence'," Cramer told AFP and other media. "We should not avoid technological progress, but we should consider how to use it in our landscape, because the very emotional and authentic scenery of a football game has to be protected." Cramer called on fans to "watch, enjoy and experience the moment." The jewel in the crown of Dortmund's Westfalenstadion is the famous 'yellow wall', Europe's biggest standing terrace which holds 25,000 supporters. "The emotion given by the yellow wall is so special that you need the people's attention. And if they just send messages and stream from the game, they lose this attention. "And if we say Dortmund has this special atmosphere, then we have to keep going (with the project)." Given the scheme's popularity -- Cramer said it has received "very, very positive feedback from our supporters" -- it will likely spread, although rivals Bayern are lukewarm. Staying true to the inter-club rivalry between Germany's two biggest clubs, Bayern board member Rouven Kasper joked: "The football is so exciting at Bayern, we don't need to ban phones." Cramer took the tongue-in-cheek jab in good nature and said the most important feedback was on the field, with Dortmund winning three from three since the scheme was implemented. "(We did it) to win games -- and we did."