The Peninsula
Hamad bin Abdulrahman Al Attiyah, President of the Asian Equestrian Federation (AEF) and Vice Chairman of the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), has praised Qatar’s preparations for the forthcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
In an interview with the Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Attiyah stated that the Asian Equestrian Federation and QREC are harnessing all their activities to promote the World Cup - the first to be staged in the Middle East and the Arab world. QREC’s horse races will be held during the World Cup in November and December, which is one of the events to be held during the World Cup in Qatar since equestrian is an integral part of the Qatari culture and heritage.
He also praised the efforts being made in the country to prepare to host the World Cup, stressing that the Qatari equestrian seeks to keep pace with the global event during which Qatar as the host nation seeks to dazzle the world with its distinguished organisation drawing from its experiences of having achieved success in organising and hosting large sporting events and championships.
He said that the FIFA World Cup Qatar will also be promoted at the Qatar Arc de Triomphe Horse Racing Festival in Paris in October.
Al Attiyah said that for a long time there has been great cooperation between the QREC and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and this cooperation will continue at this year’s edition, adding that the festival annually witnesses the participation and attendance of horse owners from around the world, as well as Qatari cultural movement through the years-long cooperation between the QREC and Qatar’s Ministry of Culture.
On the equestrian club’s readiness for Qatar Arc de Triomphe Qatar in Paris, Al Attiyah said that all arrangements have been completed by QREC and the France Gallo Foundation, and the festival will witness large participation including a large presence of Qatari horse owners.
Several Qatari horses are participating in a number of main races, and also strongly competing to win the World Cup title for purebred Arabian horses, he added.
Al Attiyah pointed out that the Qatar Prix de Triomphe is characterised by its global character and the wide participation of several countries every year, but the 2022 edition witnesses an intense presence of many different international participants and a large group of the best horses in the world, which confirms the importance and character of this 100th edition of the race which is extraordinary.
The President of the Asian Equestrian Federation and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors of QREC further stated that the development achieved by Qatari sport, in general, has been due to the great support provided by the wise leadership of the country, especially to the Qatar equestrian, which has achieved many global successes in terms of participation besides sponsorship of biggest races in Britain, France, Ireland, and America among other.
QREC’s new racing season is scheduled to begin in October and run till April 2023 at the QREC’s Al Rayyan Racecourse and the Al Uqda Racecourse.