Qatar

Qatar is to upgrade its Losail International Circuit, which is best known for hosting major motorcycling events, to cater for Formula One.

Qatari real estate firm, Al Emadi Enterprises, has signed as the ‘golden sponsor’ of Qatar’s leading club football knock-out competitions, the Emir’s Cup and the Heir Apparent’s Cup, for the fourth season in succession.

The Emir of Qatar has passed a decision to establish a public corporation under the name ‘Aspire Zone’ to run the sports and leisure precinct formerly known as the Sport City - the main venue for the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

The population of Qatar has demonstrated overwhelming support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic bid.

The Heads of State of all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries pledged their unanimous support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid at their summit in Doha this week.

The IAAF Council agreed a number of hosts for future events including Doha for the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Championships and Istanbul for the 2012 event.

The Qatar National Olympic Committee (QNOC) agreed a deal with Qatar National Bank (QNB), for the bank to sponsor the four major sport championships in the country - Football, Basketball, Handball, and Volleyball for the 2007-2008 season.

Qatar has named the bidding team behind the Gulf state’s formal bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games.

The Asian Football Confederation said Qatar will host the next edition of the Asian Cup, in 2011.

Qatar is hot favourite to host the 2011 Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup now that India has formally withdrawn its interest in hosting the event.

Sony Ericsson WTA Tour said that Bangalore, India; Doha, Qatar; Istanbul, Turkey; and Monterrey, Mexico have been selected as the finalist bid cities to host the 2008 Sony Ericsson Championships.

The ASPIRE Academy in Qatar launched an ambitious programme that will provide talented African students from seven nations with a chance to study and train in one of the world’s most advanced sports Academies.

The Qatar Football Association and Qatar Shell signed an agreement making Shell a Platinum Sponsor of the Emir and Heir Apparent Cups for the 2006-2007 season.

The Kuwait Financial Centre Markaz agreed a deal to sponsor the Commercialbank Qatar Masters golf tournament.

Qatar National Bank (QNB) agreed a deal with the Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) to become official sponsor of the Middle East car rally championship and the 2007 Losail National Cup motorcycle racing.

Representatives of all golf’s major tours as well as commercial industry heavyweights will come together when GolfEx Dubai 2007 takes to the floor at the Madinat Conference Centre on January 28-29.

Media giant CNN International has signed up as sponsor for the 2007 Commercialbank Qatar Masters.

Qatar’s Olympic bid officials say they will keep fighting to host the Summer Games – even if their hopes of staging the 2016 event fall flat.