Doha Sports & Outdoors

Jeep safari: 4 wheel drives you every top and bottom of the sand dunes,
Organizations are made through travel-tourism agencies, it is a dangerous thing to travel just by your own jeep: u can be lost or pass some close border unwillingly, get the car stuck in sand (can easily happen) or an unwanted mechanical problem may occur.
ı have been in an all inclusive tour that contains
jeep with professional driver,
unlimited food and drinks (allright),
private sandy beach with shower and other facilities,
chance to try sandskiing,
motor ride ın the beach and up and down in the dunes by myself.
That was a beautiful day.
Do not forget to use a sunscreening cream...

Equipment: sunglasses
bikinis ; )
water to be handy at anytime 1 Litre
sunscreening cream, a Must!
towels.
thats it.

4 more images

When I learned that there will be another tennis tournament here in Doha, I said to myself that I will never miss this yearly event. Unfortunately last year, I was back in Manila for medical treatment when Qatar Total Open was held.

I had the chance to watch 2 times (28 Feb and 02 Mar). The venue was big enough to accommodate tennis fans. During the first day 5 courts and this was reduced gradually until the semi finals where the center court is used. Still, the center court accommodated the tennis fanatics.

This year, Qatar Total Open is from 26-Feb to 03-March. Famous names in tennis like Martina Hingis, Justine Henin, Daniela Hantuchova, Sania Mirza, Ai Sugiyama, Maria Kirilenko, Jelena Jankovic join this year's tournament. Last years winner was Nadia Petrova . I was hoping that Maria Sharapova would join the event but for some reason, she did not participated. She was the winner last 2005.

The event is open to public (free entrance) except at the lower box section of the center court during the semi-finals event.

There is a booth where I bought a souvenir cap. This cap is now very special to me because Daniela Hantuchova who is one of my tennis idol signed my cap after defeating Eleni Daniilidou (Greece)

2 more images

Ever tried of ice skating in the desert. Don't take it literally. I mean ice skating in City Center. This is one of the spectacle and place where local kids enjoy the weekend for some fun and adventure.

4 more images

I was really astonished on how the organizing committee and the business community in Doha was so involved and committed to make the Asian Games a real success. For advertising, they even used the facades of the building as billboard advertisement for the Doha Games.

Kudos to DAGOC.

4 more images

The Games are set to take place between the 1st and 15th of December. Over 30 sports facilities will accommodate the athletes' requirements - 14 multipurpose stadiums are already scattered round Doha and are being refurbished to meet the demand.

THE 39 SPORTS

Aquatics, Archery, Athletics, Badminton, Basketball, Baseball, Body Building, Bowling, Boxing, Canoe-Kayak, Chess, Cue Sports, Cycling, Equestrian, Fencing, Football, Golf, Gymnastics, Handball, Hockey, Judo, Kabaddi, Karate, Rowing, Rugby, Sailing, Sepaktakraw, Shooting, Softball, Soft Tennis, Squash, Table Tennis, Taekwondo, Tennis, Triathlon, Volleyball, Weightlifting, Wrestling, Wushu

PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES

Afghanistan
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Bhutan
Brunei
Cambodia
China
Chinese Taipei
East Timor
Hong Kong
India
Indonesia
Iran
Iraq
Japan
Jordan
Kazakhstan
Kuwait
Kyrgyzstan
Laos
Lebanon
Macau
Malaysia
Maldives
Mongolia
Myanmar (Burma)
Nepal
North Korea (DPR Korea)
Oman
Pakistan
Palestine
Philippines - my home country
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Singapore
South Korea
Sri Lanka
Syria
Tajikistan
Thailand
Turkmenistan
United Arab Emirates
Uzbekistan
Vietnam
Yemen

4 more images

Sports City is a vast new complex built to be the showcase venue for the Asian Games in December 2006. It includes Khalifa Stadium, Hamad Aquatic Centre, an indoor basketball hall, and a number of smaller venues that are part of the ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence. The latter is a sports training academy for promising young athletes, and is the largest indoor sports complex in the world. Under one roof it contains a football pitch (official size), a smaller football field, an athletics track, an olympic swimming and diving pool, a gymnastics hall, thirteen table-tennis courts, two squash courts, and other facilities. Outdoors it has another seven football pitches and two tennis courts.

There are biking and walking tracks for public use around the grounds of the complex, as well as different fitness stations for performing various exercises. The bicycle lanes are also good for rollerblading. Even if you're not feeling active, it's impressive just to see the facilities. Other amenities are under construction nearby, such as a hotel and a shopping mall that will be Qatar's largest when completed.

4 more images

On April 8th, 2006, the MotoGP event was held in Doha at the Losail International Circuit. Motorcycle racing is really not my thing, but it was fun to see it once. One thing I can say is that these motorcycles are FAST and LOUD! Earplugs are highly recommended; the moment at the beginning when they all rev their engines is particularly deafening. An annual Superbike World Championship event is also held here every year. As part of their quest to become the epicentre of sport, the Qataris have spent US$ 60 million on this world-class racetrack. Not that I know anything about racetracks, but it looks pretty impressive.

On April 29th, 2006, Losail will host Qatar's first four-wheeled motor race, the Grand Prix Masters World Series. This is a car race for former racing stars, with a minimum age of 45.

Directions: From Doha follow signs to the Doha Golf Club. Once you pass the Golf Club, turn right at the second roundabout onto the coastal highway. This is a large roundabout and will have signs pointing to Al Khor. The racetrack is 20km or so down this road in the middle of the desert. It's on the left, but the turnoff is to the right and leads through a tunnel under the road to get to the other side.

Equipment: Bring earplugs!

If you take a trip out to Palm Tree Island you may have the opportunity to rent one of their 2 person sail boats. They are quite fun to spend your time on the bay. Every now and again there will be other sailing trips you can take if you prefer to be more of a passenger. There are a few boats in the harbor which cater to tourists and give trips.