Staff Reporter
Doha: The Winter Sports Development Program was officially launched at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena as part of the Years of Culture Initiative (Qatar – Canada & Mexico 2026). The programme is a strategic collaboration between the Qatar Winter Sports Committee and Qatar Museums.
The initiative serves as a dynamic platform that fuses sport and culture, aiming to boost awareness and participation in winter sports in Qatar while fostering stronger cultural and people-to-people ties with Canada and Mexico.
The opening ceremony featured a strong diplomatic and sporting spirit, highlighted by a ceremonial puck drop performed by Ambassador of Canada to Qatar H E Karim Morcos, Ambassador of Mexico to Qatar H E José Guillermo Ordorica Robles, and President of the Qatar Winter Sports Committee Majid Rashid Al-Sulaiti.
This marked the beginning of an exhibition ice hockey match between amateur Qatari players and Canadian residents in Qatar.
Attendees also enjoyed curling demonstrations and participation sessions led by expert coaches, as well as open skating workshops suitable for all ages. The event offered a rich cultural experience, featuring culinary delights from Qatar, Canada, and Mexico, celebrating diversity and cross-cultural friendship.
Al-Sulaiti expressed satisfaction with the overwhelming public turnout, which surpassed expectations. He praised the collaboration with Qatar Museums’ Years of Culture program, chaired by H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, and emphasized the role of such initiatives in strengthening international bonds. He confirmed that more winter sports events will be held at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in the coming period.
