MENA

English rugby union clubs Wasps and Harlequins have confirmed they will break new ground by staging their forthcoming LV= Cup fixture in Abu Dhabi.

World Sport Group (WSG) has announced that this year’s coverage of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Asian Cup Qatar 2011 tournament will feature data graphics developed via STATS’s SportVU player tracking technology.

The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will provide a significant economic boost for the emirate and its neighbouring countries in the Gulf, according to a new report by the National Bank of Kuwait.

Sepp Blatter, president of football’s world governing body FIFA, said countries near Qatar could host some 2022 World Cup games according to French sports daily L’Equipe.

Some of the Middle East’s leading brands were recognised at the 2010 Arabian Sponsorship Awards, held yesterday at the second Arabian Sponsorship Forum at The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi.

Kevin Roberts discusses England's failed bid to host the 2018 World Cup.

FIFA president Sepp Blatter has welcomed the decision of the governing body’s executive committee to award the 2018 and 2022 World Cups to Russia and Qatar respectively.

FIFA has just announced that Russia will host the 2018 FIFA World Cup and Qatar will stage the 2022 edition.

A study by global advisors Grant Thornton, commissioned by the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup bid, has revealed that football in Middle East would grow by $24 billion if the tournament is held in the country.

A note by the head of the Spain/Portugal joint bid for the 2018 FIFA World Cup suggests there will be no punishment to his, and Qatar’s 2022 World Cup candidacy for alleged collusion.

Professional Sports Group has confirmed 2010 FIFA World Cup Chief Executive Officer, Danny Jordaan, and adidas' SVP of Global Sports Marketing, Jocelyn Robiot, as keynote speakers for the 2010 Arabian Sponsorship Forum.

The director of sport for the British Olympic Association (BOA), Sir Clive Woodward, has signed up as a speaker to the Aspire4Sport Conference and Expo in Doha, Qatar next month.

The leaders of the Iberian and Qatar bids to host the World Cup will be investigated by FIFA's ethics committee over allegations of vote trading.

The second Arabian Sponsorship Forum will take place at The Yas Hotel, Abu Dhabi on December 8 and 9, the Professional Sports Group has confirmed.

The inaugural Aspire4Sport Conference and Expo has received confirmation that Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson will join the line-up of major sports personalities at the event in Doha, Qatar, from November 15-18.

Legendary stars Carlos Alberto, Mario Kempes and Ossie Ardiles have all been confirmed for the Aspire4Sport-organised World Cup Icons presentation before the Argentina-Brazil friendly on November 17 at the Khalifa International Stadium, in Doha, Qatar.