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DOHA (AFP) – Qatar wants to set up a $ 20 billion sports industry by 2022 as it seeks to develop new markets in a context of regional political tensions, said one official Economic Outlook of the emirate Sunday, February 17.
Yousuf Mohamed al-Jaida, managing director of the Qatar Financial Center, said he expects the goal to be achieved within three years – without specifying how the figure was met or giving its value current.
Jaida said that there would be "a major expansion of the sport in terms of objectives and in terms of concentration".
Although renowned for organizing sporting events – and Qatar should again offer to host the Olympics – Jaida said the new approach would go further.
The development of the industry would not only concern accommodation, but also the increased use of Qatari medical and athletic training facilities, considered among the best in the world.
One of the ways, he added, would be to take advantage of the growing international reputation of the country's sports training center, Aspire Academy, which had officials present at the launch on Sunday.
Aspire is being used by a growing number of teams – including Bayern Munich and Qatar's own Paris Saint-Germain – and serves as a greenhouse for many local players who have recently helped Qatar win the Asian Cup.
"We are doing this in coordination with Aspire.If you look at the infrastructure they have, it is gigantic, world clbad and I think we can build on their success," Jaida said.
The QFC is a government-supported trade organization that aims to attract domestic and international investment to Qatar.
Jaida admitted that the new approach was motivated by political tensions in the Gulf.
"The strategy was developed because of the geopolitical situation," he said.
Since June 2017, Qatar has found itself isolated from former allied neighbors in a bitter political conflict.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain accuse Qatar of supporting and financing "terrorism" and collaborating with Iran, the regional enemy of Riyadh.
Doha denies the accusations and accuses rivals of wanting a regime change in Qatar.
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