Qatar Launches Winter Sports Programme in Desert as Part of 2026 Year of Culture

It might feel like Canada, but it is Qatar. Inside Doha's Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena, curling stones glide across the ice, children and adults alike wobble through their first skating steps and amateur players battle it out in a friendly ice hockey match. The scene marked the launch of the Qatar Canada and Mexico 2026 Year of Culture, with sport taking centre stage. The Winter Sports Development Programme is the first major public event of the year-long initiative, designed to bring people together through shared experiences, even in unlikely settings.

Why it matters now

The launch comes at a moment organisers say gives it added weight. “We've had a rough couple of weeks, turbulent times,” said Karim Morcos, Canada’s ambassador to Qatar. “Culture and sports is what brings humanity together. We bring down the barriers and we show what it's like to be human.”

For Morcos, the partnership is also a chance to showcase Canada’s identity. “Canada is a very diverse place… sport and culture are ways to integrate,” he said. “What I want Qataris to see is the beauty of that, the diversity of Canada.”

Building something new on the ice

For many in attendance, this was their first encounter with winter sports. Families tried curling, short track speed skating and ice hockey, as Qatar looks to build participation in disciplines that are still relatively new to the country.

For Besan Elwadia, that growth has been deeply personal. “At the age of 16, I started figure skating and then joined the first national women's ice hockey team in Qatar,” she said. “I helped recruit players and we slowly became a team.”

Now an assistant coach in the Learn to Play Hockey programme, she is helping introduce the sport to the next generation. “We were able to build this community in Qatar, parents from different countries coming together through one sport,” she said. “We've grown to over 60 kids in the programme.”

In a country known for its heat, the appeal is simple. “Sometimes you just need a cool place and a sport to play indoors.”

Beyond sport: deeper ties

While the focus is on sport, the initiative reflects broader cooperation between Qatar and its partners. “It's a new day, a new page in our relationship,” Morcos said, pointing to recent agreements between Canada and Qatar, including a 10-year plan to deepen ties across political, security and economic sectors.

That collaboration is already extending into major global events. “Qatar had a very successful experience, so we're looking to them for lessons,” he said, referring to preparations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which Canada will co-host.

Mexico, the third partner in this year’s programme, sees the Year of Culture as a way to strengthen those connections even further. “We're three friendly countries… fostering friendship, cooperation and collaboration,” said Guillermo Ordorica, Mexico’s ambassador to Qatar.

He added that Qatar is already familiar to many in Mexico following the 2022 World Cup. “Qatar became very famous in my country… we are certain we will reinforce that very positive view of Qatar as a country with which we share many values.”

A year-long programme

The Year of Culture initiative pairs Qatar with partner countries each year, expanding beyond traditional arts into sport, education and community programmes. The Winter Sports Development Programme will run throughout 2026, with monthly events aimed at building grassroots participation and creating pathways to competition.

If the launch is anything to go by, winter sports may be finding a home in Qatar. Even in the desert.