2022 World Cup facilities a boost to Qatar's 2030 Asian Games preparations
Qatar, which is to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, has also been confirmed as the venue for the Asian Games eight years later.
Qatar’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup will also stand the country in good organisational and infrastructural stead as it gets ready to stage the Asian Games in 2030.
"Welcome once again to the sporting capital of Doha"
In a post on its official Twitter account, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, the body responsible for organising the World Cup, reacted to the announcement that the Asian Games have been awarded to Qatar with the message: "Welcome once again to the sporting capital of Doha".
Qatar's facilities undoubtedly contributed greatly to the nation winning the right to host the event, given the availability of World Cup stadiums, the Aspire Academy and its various facilities, other infrastructure built for Qatar 2022 - such as the Doha subway - and the many hotels in the Qatari capital.
Not Qatar's first time as host of Asian Games
Qatar also hosted the Asian Games in 2006, with all 45 member nations of the Olympic Council of Asia taking part in a championships that featured 423 competitions across 39 sports.
Qatar has a strong track record as the venue for global sporting events, including the 2010 World Indoor Athletics Championships, the 2014 World Swimming Championships, the 2015 World Handball Championship, the 2016 UCI Road World Championships, the 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships and the 2019 World Athletics Championships.