DOHA : A new Winter Sports Development Programme was officially launched at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena as part of the Qatar–Canada and Mexico 2026 Cultural Years initiative.
The programme is a joint effort between the Qatar Winter Sports Committee and the Cultural Years initiative under Qatar Museums, aiming to promote winter sports in Qatar while strengthening cultural and sporting ties with Canada and Mexico.
Designed as an integrated platform combining sport and culture, the initiative offers interactive experiences and specialised activities to raise awareness of ice sports, support local talent development and encourage collaboration with international expertise.
The opening ceremony was attended by Canada’s ambassador to Qatar, Karim Morcos, Mexico’s ambassador Jose Guillermo Ordorica, and Qatar Winter Sports Committee chairman Majed Rashid Al Sulaiti.
Proceedings featured a ceremonial puck drop to launch an exhibition ice hockey match involving amateur players from Qatar and Canada-based residents.
Visitors also took part in curling demonstrations, ice skating sessions and educational workshops led by specialised coaches, while families enjoyed a range of cultural entertainment and cuisine representing Qatari, Canadian and Mexican traditions.
Al Sulaiti praised the strong turnout, noting that the event exceeded expectations and reflected growing public interest in both winter sports and cultural exchange.
He highlighted the role of such initiatives in fostering international dialogue and engagement, underlining collaboration with Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani and the broader Cultural Years programme.
The initiative marks another step in Qatar’s efforts to expand its sporting landscape while promoting cross-cultural understanding through shared experiences.
