QFA president backs Iraq efforts to lift stadium ban

Doha: President of the Qatar Football Association (QFA) HE Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al-Thani said that he supports all the efforts made by Iraq to lift the ban imposed on its stadiums.
Sheikh Hamad said in a statement that he will chair an official delegation that will pay a visit to Iraq in the near future. The delegation will meet with officials there and discuss uniting their efforts in order to reach that goal.
QFA President also said that QFA will request FIFA to allow a friendly match to be played between Qatar and Iraq in Baghdad. He said that Qatar is more than ready to employ all of its capabilities and that of its local and international partners at the service of the Iraqi football. Qatar will participate in a friendly tournament to be played in Iraq in March. Syria and Kuwait will be the other teams in the championship.
He also hoped that Iraq Football Association will host many tournaments in the future.
The statement was released following the visit made by Iraqi Minister of Youth and Sport Abdul Hussein Abdul Reda and president of the Iraqi football association Abdul Khaleq Masoud. The two officials held a number of meetings with Qatari sports officials.

Qatar team prepare for Asian Indoor Athletics
Qatar athletes are preparing to participate in the upcoming 8th Asian Indoor Athletics Championships, which will take place from February 1 to 8 in Tehran, Iran. Around 13 Qatari athletes are due to compete in the event including Olympian champion and World Athlete of the Year, Mutaz Barshim. The Qatar  athletes team delegation will leave Doha to Tehran by the end of the  month.

Qatar to host FINA Marathon Swim World Series
Qatar will host the FINA Marathon Swim World Series (10km) at the Doha Corniche in March. The event’s organising committee chaired by Khaleel Ibraheem al-Jaber held a meeting recently to coordinate  efforts needed to host the championship.
FINA Marathon Swim World Cup will be preceded by the Masters Championship which will be held for the public for 1.5km. All Qatari clubs, individuals and institutions will participate in this event.
The number of participants is expected to reach 700 in the Masters Cup.

Emir Sword Festival from February 22
The Racing and Equestrian Club will host HH the Emir 27th Equestrian Sword Festival on February 22nd and will run until February 24th.
The race will begin on Thursday with the 30th race of the season, which includes 8 races, the last half of which is the main Zubarah Award for finest Pure Arabian horses.
The main race will be held on February 24th, the last day of the festival which includes HH the Emir’s Award for the original hybrid horses and Emir’s Sword for the finest Pure Arabian horses.

Qatar International Endurance Cup today
Qatar Endurance Committee will organise the Qatar International Endurance Cup today. The event will take place at Sealine with a large number of horses from Qatar and other nations taking part.
A total of 113 participants will take part in three races that are 120km, and 80km long. The medical check up will take place 24 hours before the race, which will begin at 6am.

QSAF holds General Assembly
Qatar Shooting and Archery Federation (QSAF) held its  Annual General Assembly meeting at Lusail shooting Complex. In the meeting, officials discussed the importance of developing the sport and building a solid base of young shooters. The attendees also set a plan for national teams to participate in the upcoming Arab Championship and Asian Championship.