Qatar has hosted boxing matches, as well as the Formula 1 and MotoGP Grands Prix.
Less than thirteen months after one of the biggest FIFA World Cup finals of all time, Qatar is back in the spotlight as 24 nations compete for the AFC Asian Cup across nine stadiums spread across the capital, Doha.
Qatar has built new stadiums that critics have deemed a waste of resources for a country with a football culture, and that the venues are seen as mere white elephants in perspective.
But the world took notice when Qatar won their first Asian Cup title in 2019. Although the team failed to deliver at the World Cup, the seeds were sown as the sport grew in popularity.
While China has given up on the 2023 edition due to its “zero Covid” policy, Qatar, which already hosted the Asian Cup twice in 1988 and 2011, has grabbed the opportunity with both hands to bring the tournament back to Western Asia. . One more time.
“Just over a year ago, Qatar hosted an exceptional World Cup, the first in the Middle East and Arab world, delivering a meaningful and long-lasting legacy,” said Hassan Al Kuwari, the marketing and communications director of the local organising committee.
“The Asian Cup builds on this legacy. “
SPORTING CAPITAL
In their bid to become the sports capital of the world, the Gulf states have used their monetary strength by hosting high-profile events.
Apart from soccer, Qatar has hosted major boxing bouts and both the Formula One and MotoGP grands prix, while the 2024 World Aquatics Championships will also be held in Doha next month — another first for a country in the Middle East.
While the 2022 World Cup was not without controversy for the host nation and filled with mounting criticism off the pitch, once the first ball was kicked, the action on the field stole the spotlight.
The tournament has defied doubts about the small country’s ability to host an event of such magnitude and Qatar hopes the Asian Cup can do the same.
“I participated in the Olympic Games, the European Championship and the last Asian Cup. This organization cannot be compared to others. Thank you to Qatar, the country and the football federation for their facilities,” said Lebanese coach Miodrag Radulovic. .
Although the popularity of the Asian Cup pales in comparison to the World Cup or the European Championship, it has a history and is the second oldest continental championship in the world after the Copa America.
Qatar earned the name in 2019 amid diplomatic wrangling and political tensions in the Gulf, but since the World Cup, those bitter disputes have been put aside.
And from Friday’s opening match, where Qatar will face Lebanon, the hosts will once again open their arms to an influx of enthusiasts from across the region, especially as almost a portion of the tournament’s countries come from the Middle East.
(Reporting by Rohith Nair in Doha; Editing by Christian Radnedge)
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