Emir Sword schedule, new logos launched

(From left) NBKS Head of Public Relations Abdelrazake Mawass, Qatar Petroleum Conference and Event Officer Abdulaziz Jassim Haji, Al Emadi Enterprises CEO Mohamed Abdulkarim al-Emadi, Qatar Total Public Relations Manager Yousef al Nesf, Total E&P Qatar General Manager Guilaume Chalmin, QREC Chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani, Longines Vice-President Charles Viilaz, Qatari Diar Director of Public Relations and Communications Khalifa bin Nasser al-Theed, QREC head of horse show section Ghanem al-Mohannadi and General Manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain pictured at yesterday’s announcement ceremony.

By Sports Reporter/DohaUnder the patronage of HH the Emir Sheikh Tamin bin Hamad al-Thani, the official programme for HH The Emir 23rd International Equestrian Sword Festival was formally announced at a press conference staged in the presence of QREC chairman HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani yesterday. Sheikh Mohamed also launched the new logos for the QIEF and Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club. “We have adapted new logos, which comes along with new strategies and facilitates the promotion of Equestrian sport in a much larger scale. I must thank Al Kass for providing us with the wonderful poster for the promotion of QIEF and also the new logos for QYEF for QREC,” he said.The eight-day event, which begins on Thursday, February 20, culminates in the running of the HH The Emir Trophy and Sword Race Meeting and will encompass the region’s most expansive celebration of the Arabian horse.Members of two globally recognised bodies within the sport will be among approximately 400 international visitors to QIEF 2014 when The European Conference of Arab Horse Organisations and The International Federation of Arabian Horse Racing Authorities will both use the occasion to stage Annual General Meetings.The Open Arena at the Qatar Equestrian Federation will be the focus of attention during the first part of the festival when the 23rd Qatar International Arabian Horse Show and the 4th Qatar International Straight Egyptian Arabian Horse Show, three-day and two-day events respectively, will fill the first five days of the Festival.Al Shahania Stud, the highly successful training and breeding operation established more than 30 years ago by HH Sheikh Mohamed bin Khalifa al-Thani which stands the 2010 Kahayla Classic winner, Jaafer, will open its gates to visitors on Tuesday, February 25.Following the visit, racing gets underway at 1.30 pm at Al Rayyan when the nine-race card features three valuable Cup events; the Qatar GCC Gulf Cup, the Al Rayyan Cup and the Qatar 2022 Invitation Cup, a Group 3 event for Thoroughbreds.There will be an opportunity to meet leading trainers and jockeys at a breakfast event on Wednesday morning before the start of the nine-race card featuring the Group 1 Qatar International Trophy.The highlight of the Festival, HH The Emir’s Trophies and Sword Race Meeting, gets underway at 1.30pm on Thursday, 27th and features races at the highest level for both Pure Bred Arabians and Thoroughbreds.HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Faleh al-Thani said, “The Qatar International Equestrian Festival is a fabulous showcase for equestrianism in the Gulf region. QIEF provides us with the opportunity to welcome people from all over the world who share our passion for equestrian sport and we look forward to forging new relationships and renewing many friendships at what promises to be our most exciting event to date.’An opening ceremony heralding the start of the QIEF will be hosted by international racing personality, Derek Thompson, who will return to present all three days of racing to provide an informative insight and enhance the visitor experience for racing enthusiasts at Al Rayyan.Sponsors play a major role in the Qatar International Equestrian Festival and headline supporters include Total E & P Qatar, Longines, Al Emadi Enterprises, Qatari Diar Real Estate Company, Qatar Petroleum, Nasser bin Khaled (NBK) and AL KASS.