Proposed Doha 2030 venue hosts QOC Padel Tournament as gateway to community sport

The Al Sadd Sports Club indoor hall, one of the many existing world-class venues proposed for the

Doha 2030 Asian Games bid, this week safely welcomed more than 300 members of the public for

the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Padel Tournament.

The tournament took place on 27-31 October and was part of a wider QOC "Sport for Life"

community engagement strategy, which is encouraging people to lead healthier and more active

lifestyles. Sport for Life is a central part of Doha’s bid for the 2030 Asian Games and reflects the

country’s strong belief in the power of sport to drive social development.

The tournament was held to provide an opportunity for people to continue to safely practice sport

during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Al Sadd Sports Club indoor hall, which would host billiards in

2030, is one of many proposed Doha 2030 venues that will continue to serve the community and

elite sport before and after 2030.

Doha 2030 CEO and QOC Secretary General H.E Jassim Bin Rashid Al Buenain said:

"Now more than ever, sport has a major role to play in inspiring hope and positivity. The QOC Padel

Tournament is just one small way we can support our communities by giving them the chance to stay

active through practising sport in a COVID-19 secure environment. This is crucial not just for physical

wellbeing but for mental wellbeing as well.

"We are fortunate to have so many existing world-class sports venues in Qatar which makes it

possible to deliver these opportunities in a safe way. Ensuring that these facilities benefit Qatar and

the region from now until 2030 and beyond, is a central pillar of our bid to host the Asian Games.

We are focused on using the Games to deliver benefits to Asian sport and serving as a gateway to a

brighter future for Asia."

Padel is one of the proposed sports on the Doha 2030 Games programme and has grown

significantly in popularity in recent years. Registration for the tournament was open to the public

and saw over 300 participants and 150 teams take part, including a number of high-profile local

influencers. The tournament was held in line with COVID-19 countermeasures to ensure the safety

of all involved.

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