Winter Sports

Qatar’s venture into winter sports officially began in 2014 with the formation of the Qatar Winter Sports Committee. Established to promote and develop winter sports within the country, the committee focused on skiing and skating as key disciplines. Over time, Qatar expanded its involvement in four winter sports: curling, ice hockey, skating, and skiing/snowboarding.

Curling

One of the most strategic and precise winter sports, made its Olympic debut at the Chamonix 1924 Winter Games. The game is contested between two teams, each consisting of four main players – the lead, second, third (or vice-skip), and skip (team captain) – as well as an optional substitute who can be brought in if necessary. Teams take turns sliding heavy granite stones across a sheet of ice toward a circular target. Players use brooms to sweep the ice and control the stone’s speed and direction. Each match comprises ten ends, and the team with the most points after all ends wins. In recent years, the sport has expanded with the inclusion of mixed doubles – a faster-paced version featuring only two players per team – added to the Olympic program at PyeongChang 2018.

Ice hockey

Rooted in 19th-century Canada and influenced by various European stick-and-ball games, has been part of the Winter Olympic programme since 1924. Women’s ice hockey was included starting from Nagano 1998. A standard team fields six players during play: one goaltender, two defenders, and three forwards (left wing, right wing, and center), but each team can have up to 20 players on the roster, including several substitutes who rotate frequently throughout the game. This fast-paced and physically demanding sport is played over three 20-minute periods, with sudden-death overtime or shootouts used to resolve ties in medal-round matches. Qatar is nurturing a growing ice hockey community and laying the groundwork for regional competitiveness.

Skating

One of the original Winter Olympic disciplines, includes figure skating, short track, and speed skating. Figure skating events feature singles, pairs, and ice dancing. Short track, known for its tight corners and thrilling overtakes, includes 500m, 1000m, and 1500m races, along with relay events. Speed skating takes place on a 400m oval track and includes distances ranging from 500m to 10,000m. Athletes compete in pairs against the clock, and only the 500m event is raced twice with combined times determining the final standings. Teams may include reserves or substitutes, especially in relay events, to maintain peak performance throughout the competition.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Qatar’s involvement in skiing and snowboarding took a significant step forward when it joined the International Ski and Snowboard Federation (FIS) as an associate member in 2024. These disciplines are among the most iconic and varied in the Winter Games. Alpine skiing, included since 1936, comprises both speed events like downhill and Super-G, and technical events such as slalom and giant slalom. Cross-country skiing, which debuted in 1924 for men and 1952 for women, includes a range of long-distance and sprint formats. Ski jumping, with its dramatic flights, has featured since 1924 and now includes men’s, women’s, and mixed team events. Nordic combined, which merges ski jumping and cross-country skiing, remains a unique test of endurance and technique.

Freestyle skiing and snowboarding represent the dynamic and youthful side of winter sports. Freestyle was first demonstrated in 1988 and added officially in 1992, while snowboarding debuted in 1998. Both sports now include events such as slopestyle, big air, half-pipe, moguls, and snowboard cross. Athletes perform breathtaking tricks and high-speed descents, often rotating across multiple rounds and heats. Mixed team events have also become more prominent, offering countries the chance to showcase their depth by using both male and female athletes – often with alternates available to substitute if needed due to injury or strategy.

Through its strategic efforts and growing infrastructure, Qatar continues to build a strong foundation in winter sports. The country's proactive involvement in international bodies and its commitment to athlete development demonstrate its vision to become a competitive force in winter sports, both regionally and on the global stage.