Qatar

The International Cycling Union (UCI) has announced that the Qatari capital of Doha will stage the 2016 World Road Cycling Championships, marking the first time the event has been held in the Middle East.

FIFA vice-president Jim Boyce has stated world football’s governing body should consider playing 2022 World Cup matches late at night in Qatar in a bid to overcome difficulties presented by the country’s climate.

Doha has enhanced its sports event-hosting credentials by agreeing a deal to stage the 2012 PSA World Squash Championship.

Qatar has secured another major sporting event after Doha was awarded the 12th FINA World Swimming Championships (25m) in 2014.

English Premier League chairman Dave Richards warned the organisers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar “not to stick their heads in the sand” over issues surrounding alcohol.

The bid team behind the Qatari capital of Doha’s attempts to bring the 2020 Olympics to the Middle East has revealed it plans to stage the Games from October 2-18 if it wins the right to host the event.

Qatar 2022 has announced that CH2M HILL has secured the crucial contract to ensure the successful delivery of the Middle East’s first FIFA World Cup.

Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi has insisted the organising committee for the FIFA World Cup will ensure contractors adhere to international labour laws for workers on construction projects for the tournament.

Longines has entered into a strategic business partnership with the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC) which will see it sponsor some of the world’s leading horse races.

Doha has learned from its previous bid for the 2016 Olympics and is in a “much stronger position” to secure the hosting rights for the 2020 Games, according to leading Qatari officials.

German Football Association (DFB) president Theo Zwanziger has renewed his attack on the award of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to Qatar by claiming the hosting criteria had been “perverted”.

UEFA president Michel Platini has stated he would be prepared to alter the European club schedule in a bid to accommodate a winter FIFA World Cup in 2022.

FIFA has pledged to help improve the rights of migrant workers building stadia for Qatar’s 2022 World Cup in the wake of threats from the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) to disrupt construction plans.

Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee general secretary Hassan al-Thawadi has stated organisers remain open to staging a winter World Cup, but added that efforts are focused on the 2022 tournament taking place in its traditional summer slot.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) will announce the winning bid for the 2017 World Athletics Championships later today, with the race between Doha and London considered by many to be too close to call.

Anheuser-Busch InBev, the owner of beer brand Budweiser, has become the first member of FIFA’s portfolio of World Cup sponsors to commit to supporting the 2018 and 2022 tournaments in Russia and Qatar, respectively.