Qatar’s sport sector is a key non-oil sector which play a vital role in diversifying national sources of income and enhancing Qatar’s openness to various countries in the world.
Qatar has dedicated a great deal of attention to sports. It set Tuesday in the second week of February every year as the National Sports Day. Qatar has also hosted many international championships that have confirmed its position as a sporting hub.
In addition, Qatar has sought to cement Qatari culture and identity through the development and support of traditional heritage sports such as traditional boat races, camel racing, horse racing and falconry. Tennis has become increasingly popular with the opening of the tennis complex, which houses many tennis courts and other sophisticated facilities.
The state has also created several institutions to bolster the development of sports-related infrastructure and attract projects in support of this sector. These institutions include:
Qatar Olympic Committee: QOC is responsible for the administrative and technical supervision of the national sports federations and institutions. There are 24 sports federations and assemblies along with 12 first-class sports clubs and 7 second-class clubs, to which all QOC provides both human and financial capabilities so that they can fulfill their missions. QOC also supervises the Girl Sports Committee.
The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy: SC is tasked with delivering proposed tournament venues and projects for the 2022 FIFA World Cup – the first to be held in the Middle East – while ensuring that its preparations align with the Qatar National Vision 2030. The SC is currently focused on achieving the goals set out in its second 2018-2022 Strategic Plan.
