Qatar

The Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has agreed a groundbreaking 10-year partnership with Interpol to support the safety and security of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and other major sporting events over the next decade.

Aspire4Sport 2012, the Middle East’s leading sports business congress and exhibition, has announced that Dr. Mario Zorzoli, chief doctor of the International Cycling Union (UCI), along with former Liverpool and England footballer John Barnes, will be key speakers at this month’s event.

The first wave of construction work towards Qatar's stadia for the 2022 FIFA World Cup will begin next year, according to the executives behind preparations for the tournament.

Qatar Petroleum (QP) has reached an agreement with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) to extend its sponsorship of the Qatar Arabian World Cup for a further year.

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced that the Qatari capital of Doha will stage the 2016 World Road Cycling Championships, marking the first time the event has been held in the Middle East.

FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has stated world football’s governing body should consider playing 2022 World Cup matches late at night in Qatar in a bid to overcome difficulties presented by the country’s climate.

Doha has enhanced its sports event-hosting credentials by agreeing a deal to stage the 2012 PSA World Squash Championship.

Qatar has secured another major sporting event after Doha was awarded the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2014.

English Premier League chairman Dave Richards warned the organisers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar “not to stick their heads in the sand” over issues surrounding alcohol.

The bid team behind the Qatari capital of Doha’s attempts to bring the 2020 Olympics to the Middle East has revealed it plans to stage the Games from October 2-18 if it wins the right to host the event.

Qatar 2022 has announced that CH2M HILL has secured the crucial contract to ensure the successful delivery of the Middle East’s first FIFA World Cup.

Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi has insisted the organising committee for the FIFA World Cup will ensure contractors adhere to international labour laws for workers on construction projects for the tournament.

Longines has entered into a strategic business partnership with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) which will see it sponsor some of the world’s leading horse races.

Doha has learned from its previous bid for the 2016 Olympics and is in a “much stronger position” to secure the hosting rights for the 2020 Games, according to leading Qatari officials.

German Football Association (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger has renewed his attack on the award of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar by claiming the hosting criteria had been “perverted”.

UEFA president Michel Platini has stated he would be prepared to alter the European club schedule in a bid to accommodate a winter FIFA World Cup in 2022.