DOHA: Qatar Airways and Qatar Football Association (QFA) have signed a partnership agreement naming the national carrier as the official airline of the Emir Cup for the next three years.
The Emir Cup is an annual national competition among local football teams in Qatar, and the agreement was signed on April 8, in the presence of Mansoor Mohammed Al Ansari, Qatar Football Association Secretary General, and Ehab Amin, Senior Vice President Commercial – Qatar at Qatar Airways.
“We are proud to be the official airline of the Emir Cup championship. Qatar Airways’ interest in this event stems from its significance of the Cup both locally and regionally, andengaging in sport activities has become a major focus in contributing to Qatar’s 2022 vision,” Amin said in a statement released yesterday.
“Qatar Airways will organise several parallel activities to promote the Emir Cup and achieve further success based on the highest international standards. We believe that investment in sport events in Qatar is extremely important, and we hope that the 43rd edition of the Emir Cup will be one of the most exciting tournaments.”
Al Ansari, QFA Secretary General, said: “Qatar Airways is considered a key partner in continuously providing high quality service by always exceeding our expectations. We would like to thank the airline for its support of sports associations, in general, and football, in particular.”
Al Ansari added that he was pleased with the renewal of the partnership with Qatar Airways for three additional years to sponsor the first national team, which is also the official carrier of the Emir Cup.
“The renewal of the partnership was ideal, as the first team prepares for its participation in World Cup 2018 and Asia Cup 2019. The 43rd edition of the Emir Cup is also ready to kick-off on April 24, 2015,” he said.
Al Ansari said QFA’s vision of hosting the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, requires QFA to take full advantage of the current ‘training period’.
The organisers of the Emir Cup said that the public in Qatar can expect exciting and entertaining events in parallel with the Emir Cup, noting new and creative promotional methods in conventional media and on social media platforms.
The Emir Cup marks the end of the QFA sport season which is widely popular in Qatar. The final will take place in Thani Bin Jassim Stadium (Al Gharafa Sports Club), accommodating 22,000 spectators.
The Emir Cup matches this year will take place in five stadiums: Grand Hamad Stadium at Al Arabi Sports Club; Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium at Qatar Sports Club; Abdullah Bin Khalifa Stadium at Lekhwiya Club; Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium at Al Sadd Sports Club and Thani Bin Jassim Stadium (Al Gharafa Sports Club).
Qatar Airways celebrated its first anniversary, in October 2014, of joining the oneworld global alliance.
Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join this global airline alliance, enabling its passengers to benefit from almost 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
The award-winning oneworld alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2014 by Skytrax for the second year running.
At the Farnborough Air Show, the airline placed an order for 100 Boeing 777X aircraft, taking Qatar Airways’ orders to more than 335 aircraft with a value of $70bn. THE PENINSULA
