Qatar: World’s Largest Sporting Complex About to Open

In mid-November, the largest sporting complex in the world with some 290,000 square metres will open to the public in Doha (Qatar). The sports palace will also serve as a symbol for the region and offer additional attractions for well-heeled tourists in the competing Gulf States.  The organisers provide athletes with all the facilities they need for optimal training. In addition, laboratories of the highest calibre are available for the science of sport. On the occasion of the Track and Field World Championships that took place in Helsinki a few weeks ago, it was already noticed that a number of top African athletes (mainly from Kenya) had changed their nationality and started under the flag of various Gulf States, including Qatar. This development is certainly bound to increase after the sporting facility opens. (eap)