F1, a new chapter in history of sports in Qatar: QMMF President

Vinay Nayudu Doha Qatar as a nation yet again put forward another big step ahead in the sporting arena as the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) an...

Vinay NayuduDohaQatar as a nation yet again put forward another big step ahead in the sporting arena as the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) and Formula 1 (F1) on Thursday agreed to an 11-race hosting deal, starting this season. The inaugural Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix will take place next month.The Losail International Circuit will host the F1 weekend in November 19-21, replacing the Australian GP, which was cancelled for the second year in a row due to the coronavirus pandemic.Qatar also signed an additional 10-year-deal from 2023. There will be no race there in 2022 due to the FIFA World Cup Qatar.Speaking at the announcement press conference Stefano Domenicali, President & CEO of Formula 1, said, “There was a strong will from Qatar to be helpful to F1, and, in the course of this process, the vision for a longer partnership was discussed. Thanks for your response and eveyone’s looking to come here for the races and for a long and stable relationship. The Middle East is an important partner and region of Formula One and there is no doubt that this will become stronger and stronger having Qatar in the family.”Abdulrahman Al Mannai, President of Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation, said: “This is a very special day for Qatar Motorsport and our nation’s ambitions as a host of major sporting events. I’m very proud that we’ve been able to support Formula 1 by stepping in and hosting a race in our country in such a short time frame, while also securing a ground-breaking long-term deal with F1. We are very grateful to Ooredoo for supporting us with this historic event.“This exciting agreement means that Qatar will be the home of both Formula 1 and MotoGP for the next decade, which are the pinnacle events in global motorsport. We have a proud motorsport history and this is the next chapter for us. Qatar will be a great destination for F1 and we look forward to welcoming all the drivers, teams, media and fans very soon.“We have fantastic facilities in Qatar and over the years we have also accumulated a lot of experience especially during the pandemic. Qatar has been able to deliver a lot of international sporting events and when we learnt of this opportunity in F1 we were very happy to step in.“Formula One is opening a new chapter in the history of sports in Qatar. We are very, very excited,” he emphasized.Jean Todt, President of the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), who joined the conference online, said: “I congratulate Formula 1, the Qatar Motor & Motorcycle Federation and the Qatari authorities, who have worked tirelessly, to quickly and efficiently make the inaugural Grand Prix in Qatar happen in these challenging times. The Losail International Circuit, which will welcome the race, has been working closely with us to ensure they are fully prepared for this momentous occasion. We are very proud of this collective achievement. I thank the QMMF President Abdulrahman Al Mannai and His Excellency Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports for their involvement. This commitment to F1 for the long-term, as well as the organisation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup and many other international events, is another example of Qatar’s strong passion for sport.”Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdulla Al Thani, Deputy Group Chief Executive Officer and CEO of Ooredoo Qatar, said: “For Qatar to host such a prestigious international sporting event is a great honour. We are proud that, as part of our drive to achieve the aims of Qatar National Vision 2030, our country is well-prepared for such an event, and has indeed proved its suitability as a trusted hub for major sporting occasions.”Aziz Aluthman Fakhroo, Managing Director of Ooredoo Group, said: “We are delighted that Qatar will be the host of such an important event on the global sporting calendar. As the title sponsor, Ooredoo is honoured to have been given the opportunity to support QMMF in bringing Qatar’s first ever F1 race. We have a long history of supporting major sporting events, in line with our corporate social responsibility strategy, and we are tremendously proud this history will now include the F1 Ooredoo Qatar Grand Prix. We extend our thanks to our partners F1 and the QMMF for their trust in Ooredoo and look forward to an incredible race weekend. I wish all the talented competitors the best of luck.”Qatar has a strong track-record as a host of world class international sporting events – with state-of-the-art sporting facilities, modern infrastructure and expertise in major event management. Doha’s globally central location will be of huge benefit to F1 logistically, while also allowing more fans to travel to the race. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Doha has established itself as one of the most trusted and COVID-safe sports hubs for major events.The QMMF and F1 have worked around the clock to ensure the race this November takes place, despite the unprecedented COVID-related challenges and the turn-around time for a deal of this complexity. For this year’s race, F1 will make use of Qatar’s existing motor racing facilities, which have hosted many motorsport events including MotoGP since 2004.The 11-race deal will take place over 12 seasons, with Ooredoo – the international communications company – also announced as the title sponsor. There will be no race in 2022 as it coincides with Qatar’s hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The race will return to Qatar in 2023 and take place for the next 10-years until 2032.The agreement means motorsport fans from around the world will be able to travel to Qatar and enjoy its world class sport, hospitality and tourism. Qatar has a proud sporting legacy having hosted MotoGP and events such as the Asian Games, FIFA Club World Cup, World Men’s Handball Championship, the AFC Asian Cup and various athletics events including the World Championships and the Diamond League.Stressing on Qatar and QMMF’s potential, Domenicali said, “We can enhance F1 with technology research in sporting activation. Making sure that this provides more growth to the sport. The first race in Qatar will be exciting and from the first moment there will be a lot of action on the track. The night race will be a nice experience for the fans in Qatar as we have seen this with the MotoGP. It will provide another big show to F1.” Deal will boost F1 interest in Qatar: Amro Al HamadMeanwhile, the QMMF Executive Director Amro Al Hamad welcomed Qatar’s staging of Formula One races. Speaking to reporters at Al Bayt Stadium on the sidelines of Qatar International Baja’s opening stage, Al Hamad said, “Now, we are going to have the newer generation showing interest in Formula One and we already have a karting academy in Qatar to train youngsters. Who knows in some years we will find some drivers who will probably represent Qatar in Formula One.”