Sporting events hosted in the Arab world
Introduction:
The Arab world is considered a region very rich in many features. It is no secret to anyone to know the ancient and long history that the Arab region enjoys and the rich heritage that this history has left behind, whether cultural, urban, literary, or otherwise. However, despite all this legacy, there was sometimes a confused and inaccurate global view of the Arab world. It is good that the Arab countries noticed this matter and began working seriously to change this incorrect view. The world of sports was one of the most successful and quickest solutions, as it is known that sports are a universal language that brings together all the peoples of the world, regardless of their cultures, and unites their feelings at certain moments
Some Arab countries witnessed a remarkable transformation and significant involvement in the world of sports of all kinds. Still, this matter was not very surprising because the Arab world has a long and honorable sports history. However, this involvement was distinguished by its high and organized level, which will bring wonderful advantages to the Arab region. We will mention some of these advantages:
First: Developing the tourism sector at all levels and attracting the attention of foreign tourists towards the Arab region, as the matter will not be limited to sports tourism only, but will include various types of tourism, which will reflect positively on the economy of these countries and increase revenues and job opportunities.
Second: Promoting a culture of peace and mutual respect among all peoples of the world through socializing during international sporting events and cultural exchange that will occur automatically.
Third: Creating an Arab sports identity and working to continuously develop it, spread it, and increase its global celebrity
Fourth: The positive impact that will occur on all types of sports in these countries, whether at the level of players or at the level of infrastructure, sports facilities, and other aspects (media, health, etc.)
Fifth: Spreading the culture of sports, as many of the younger generations take their favorite players as role models to follow, which will reflect positively on society
First: The sporting reality in the Arab world:
The sporting reality in the Arab world is no longer what it was before. In recent years, many Arab countries have hosted many international tournaments in various types of sports. These countries and many other countries are also working to continue holding important sporting events on their lands, especially those that attract global interest, enabling these countries to showcase their development, achievements, distinguishing organizational capabilities, and the safe environment they enjoy.
We will mention below some of the sporting events that have taken place or will be held in the Arab world:
First: The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar
Second: The FIFA Club World Cup in 2023 in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Third: The 2019 Asian Football Cup in the United Arab Emirates
Fourth: Asian Handball Championship 2020 in Kuwait
Fifth: The Arabian Gulf Cup in 2023 in Iraq
Sixth: Arab Athletics Championship 2015 in Bahrain
Second: The most important sporting events in the Arab world:
FIFA Youth World Cup: The Emirates hosted this distinguished tournament in 2003, where the matches were held on the grounds of seven stadiums in four cities. The tournament ended with the crowning of the Brazilian team. The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) assigned this task to the Emirates after verifying the readiness of the stadiums, sports, and tourist facilities, and all public facilities necessary for this tournament and its fans
FIFA World Cup 2022: This was the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Arab world, as Qatar hosted it at the end of last year. The tournament was very distinctive in all aspects, such as organization, equipment, tourist facilities, and public facilities.
The tournament was hosted in 8 stadiums distinguished by their magnificent architectural design that expressed the Qatari heritage and history. The stadiums were also equipped with the latest technologies by the most important international standards to achieve comfort and safety for players and fans alike, in addition to achieving the principles of environmental sustainability, as all of these stadiums will be subject to modification after the end of the Cup to suit the actual needs of Qatar, some stadiums will also be dismantled and presented as gifts to developing countries.
Asian Club Handball Championship for Men: The 21st edition of this tournament was hosted in 2019 in Kuwait with the participation of 13 Asian teams, where 43 matches were held, ending with a Qatari club being crowned champion.
Confederations Cup: This tournament brings together the teams of Confederations Cup champions around the world, as Saudi Arabia hosted three consecutive editions in the years 1992, 1995, and 1997.
FIBA 3×3 Manama Masters: It is a basketball tournament organized by the Bahrain Olympic Committee, the Bahrain Basketball Federation, and the General Sports Authority and will be held in November of the current year 2023 in Bahrain Port. Many basketball teams from all over the world will compete in this tournament
Gulf Cup Championship: This tournament has special importance to the Gulf and Iraqi football fans, as the teams of the Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, the Sultanate of Oman, Yemen, and Kuwait compete for this cup, and it is considered one of the important and enthusiastic tournaments for the Iraqi football fans.
The State of Iraq also hosted the Gulf Cup for teams twice, as the tournament was held on its earth in the years 1979 and the last edition of the tournament in 2023. The Iraqi team also won the Arabian Gulf Cup 4 times, in the years 1979, 1984, 1988, and 2023. The last edition of the “Gulf 25” tournament was held in Iraq in Basra, and that was after a long pause from holding the tournament in Iraq
Third: Sports betting in the Arab world:
The lack of land-based betting platforms in the Arab world did not prevent Arab players from practicing betting activity, especially with the spread of online betting platforms and online casinos, which contain a special section for sports betting, which includes all types of sports, as these platforms received great admiration among the Arab public (Arabic bet)
There has been a lot of news recently about the tendency of some Arab countries to think about legalizing gambling and betting activities, and it is not surprising that some countries are looking at the issue, especially those countries which considered a destination for many businessmen and tourists in the world. It is not surprising that it is making changes proportional to its desire to become a destination for tourism of all kinds, especially since the fields of sports betting and gambling activities are distinguished by huge financial returns, which is commensurate with the desire of some countries to reduce dependence on oil as the basis of the economy and money and turn to other factors that supply the state treasury, and one of these factors is hosting sporting events of an international and regional level that he is talking about our article
In the end, there is no doubt that sport is no longer just a physical and recreational activity. Rather, it has become an industry in its own right and a measure that reflects the extent of development and civilization of any nation in the world. Therefore, Arab countries continue to strive to host more events.
