Statistics Authority Figures Back Qatar's Global Ambitions in Sports

Doha, December 09 (QNA) - Qatar's qualitative quest to produce top athletes and develop its sports infrastructure further as one of the best centres in the world to host premier international events are quantitatively backed by figures unveiled by the Qatar Statistics Authority (QSA). Qatar's overall infrastructure development for all sports, under the aegis of Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and proactive support from the government, has marked a 6.1 per cent growth in the four-year period from 2007-08 to 2010-11. Overall the number of sports stadia in 2010-11 stood at 309 compared to 280 in 2007-08. The growth in football stands out among all sports in the statistical survey done by QSA and reaffirms Qatar's successful bid to win the rights in December 2010 to host the 2022 edition of FIFA World Cup was based on long-term planning and sustainable development which leaves a lasting legacy. In fact, the world's most popular field sport's infrastructure has expanded from 78 stadiums in 2007-08 to 90 in 2010-11 while the multi-event sports stadia has increased from 10 to 12 in the same period, according to the report. The growth rates, as a percentage of all sports infrastructures, of football stadiums in Qatar has gone up to 29.1 per cent from 27.9 per cent in the four-year period. Indeed, the Khalifa International Stadium, which showcases the Arab Games opening ceremony today, the Al Sadd football stadium, the Qatar Sports Club and Al Gharafa stadiums, complete with top class player's dressing rooms and media conference facilities, rank among the best sports infrastructures in the world. The QSA reports says increasing number of national, regional and international tournaments held in the sports calendar year are in consonance with the ambitions of the State of Qatar and its plans to prepare well for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Indoor stadia noted the next significant growth of 16.21 per cent. In 2007-08 there were 31 facilities which increased to 37 in 2010-11. Volleyball facilities were up from 8 to 11, multi-event sports stadiums were up from 10 to 12 while billiards and squash increased by one each, the QSA report said. The QOC's initiatives to spread awareness and sports culture at the schools, junior, senior and youth levels have proved successful with the number of active men and women participants going up significantly. The total number of players registered in the various sports federations under the QOC were 15,414 in 2010-2011. Of this figure 14,300 were males (92.7%) while 1,114 were females (7.3%). The percentage of men registered for football was 33.5%, followed by 12.9 % in handball and 10.8% for swimming. Surprisingly for a football-loving population, Qatari women preferred taekwondo and judo (14.8%) followed by fencing (12.7%). Football had a low enrollment of just 5.6 per cent. The statistics also show an increase in the number of tournaments organised and conducted by the various federations under the QOC. The total number of sports event conducted in 2010-11 was 821. The number of events organized at the local level were 459 tournaments (55.90%), international events came next with 137 tournaments (16.7%), GCC events comprised 87 tournaments (10.6%), Asian level tournaments were 74 while Arab tournaments were 64.. In terms of age group participation, adults had 327 local tournaments at 39.8 per cent, followed by the junior category with 150 tournaments at 18.3 per cent while the sub-junior category had 85 tournaments at 10.4 per cent. Among the events, equestrianism had the lion's share with 105 championships at 12.8 per cent followed by football and swimming with 57 championships each and at 9.1 per cent. The total number of coaches was 669. Of this figure 38 were Qatari coaches representing 4.2 per cent of the total number coaches while non-Qatari coaches were 641 at 95.8 per cent of the total. There were 328 assistant coaches. Of this figure 108 were Qataris (33 per cent) and 219 non-Qatari (67 per cent). Training courses to enhance the capacities of coaches associated with different sports were held during the 2010-2011 season. Most of the courses conducted for coaches were at the local level with 19 courses representing 50% of total number of courses held. The total number of registered referees for various sports was 1.042 referees for the season 2010/2011. Of this figure 442 were Qataris at 42.4% of the total while non-Qataris were 600 at 57.6%. The number of registered Paralympics athletes by age, gender and disability was 336 for the 2010-2011 seasons. Of this males were 239 males (71.1%) and females were 97 (28.9%). In terms of age the number of youth athletes was the highest with a total of 88 athletes at 26.2%, followed by the juniors with a total of 82 at 24.4%. In terms of type of handicaps, athletes with mental disability were 222 at 66.0%. Those with physical disability were 57 at 17%. These impressive figures definitely confirm Qatar's aspirations to be counted among the world's top sporting countries are valid, based as they are on achievements and not hyperbole. (QNA)