Aquatics Definition Aquatics comprises a whole range of water-based activities. The earlier Olympic competitions were focused primarily on swimming, but current aquatics events consist of four disciplines: diving, swimming, synchronised swimming and water polo. More Archery Definition The use of the bow and arrow has existed for many thousands of years, both for hunting and warfare. Improvements in the materials and technology during the course of the centuries has contributed significantly to the archer's accuracy and the arrow's speed. More Athletics Definition Athletics is, in many ways, the embodiment of the Olympic motto, "Citius, Altius, Fortius", meaning faster, higher, and stronger. Athletics (or track and field) is about running faster, jumping higher and throwing further than your competitors. Athletics comprises running, jumping and throwing events, either in a specialised stadium or on a more open area (i.e. cross-country running). Athletics also includes multi-discipline events, like decathlon, and heptathlon for women. More Badminton Definition Badminton is played by either two or four players on a marked rectangular court, using strung rackets - similar to tennis rackets, but smaller, more flexible and much lighter - and a feathered shuttlecock. The games normally take place in a draught-free indoor environment. The object of the game is to score points by hitting the shuttlecock over the net into the opponent's half of the court, so that it hits the ground before they are able to return it. More Basketball Definition Basketball is a fast indoor game played with two teams of five players each. The object of the game is to score as many baskets as possible by shooting the ball into a hoop high up at both ends of the court. The winning team is the one that has scored the most points after the entire game period. More Baseball Definition Baseball is a team sport between two teams of nine players each played on an enclosed field. The object of the game is for one team to score more runs than the other. A run is scored by a player running around the four bases on the pitch. If the team has three players out of bat or while running the bases, they revert to fielding while the opposition bats. More Bodybuilding Definition At pre-judging, each category presents onstage before a panel of nine judges. During this presentation, the competitors are compared against each other while performing relaxed turns and compulsory poses - seven for men; five for women. Each judge must award each competitor a placing, from first to last, giving no two or more competitors the same placing. Two high and two low placing are then discarded. The remaining five placing are summed to produce a pre-judging 'subscore' and 'place'. More Bowling Definition In bowling a plastic ball is pushed or thrown down a lane, at the end of which are the wooden pins that need to be knocked over. The most popular form of the sport is ten pin bowling, although there are also three kinds of nine pin bowling. More Boxing Definition Boxing is a bout which takes place in a ring between two competitors whose main objective is to gain the most points by landing punches on their opponent. The match is held over various rounds - depending on the weight category. Contestants either win by points, stoppage or - the most spectacular way - a knock-out. More Canoe-kayak Definition Canoeing is a modern sport with possibilities for young and old, for women and men, which can be practised on all different kinds of water. There are many different disciplines; there are sea-kayakists, the extreme wild water people, Olympic disciplines such as flatwater racing and canoe slalom, different competition sports as wild water racing, marathon racing, canoe polo, canoe sailing and dragon boating and all the different kinds of canoe touring on all continents. More Chess Definition A game played on a chessboard, by two persons, with two differently coloured sets of pieces, sixteen in each set. Each player has a king, a queen, two bishops, two knights, two castles and eight pawns. The object is to checkmate the opponent's king. More Cue Sports Definition Cue sports encompasses snooker, billiards, pool, American pool, bar billiards and all other cue sports related games and activities. Most commonly, cue sports are referred to as billiard sports. More Cycling Definition Cycle racing is divided into two main events: track and road racing. They include national and international competitions, both indoor and outdoor. Indoor events include track races and stationary races. More Equestrian Definition This is the only Olympic sport where man and animal are established team-mates, and one of the few where men and women compete on equal terms. Equestrian is the ultimate in team sports, a horse and rider working together for years to hone feats of grace, daring, agility and speed. Chariot races and horse riding appeared in Greece's ancient Games, but most of the equestrian programme as we know it began in the Olympic Games of 1912. It includes three disciplines - dressage, jumping and the three-day event - each with individual and team competition. More Fencing Definition Fencing is a traditional sport, based on ancient sword-fighting rituals, that has been likened to a game of chess with muscles. It involves two competitors who contest a bout using a foil, sabre or epee. More Football Definition Football is played between two teams of 11 players. The aim of the game is to put the ball into the opponent's goal by kicking or heading it. A game lasts for 90 minutes, divided into two halves of 45 minutes each. The team that has scored the most goals wins the match. More Golf Definition Golf has been described as a sport played 95% with the mind and 5% with the body. Although the simple objective is to use a series of clubs to propel the ball, both through the air and along the ground, into a series of 18 holes in as few strokes as possible. History The Romans introduced a game called paganica to Britain. In the 14th century, another game, called cambuca, was played in Britain. Both of these games were similar to the present-day game of golf. More Gymnastics Definition Gymnastics in general involves sports which require competitors to perform set moves either on the floor or in the air, requiring a high level of flexibility, suppleness and strength. Trampolining is also included because it is a form of gymnastics performed in the air, and the same applies to acrobatics to some extent. More Handball Definition Handball is a fast-paced game involving two teams of seven players who pass, throw, catch and dribble a small ball with their hands while trying to score goals. The team with the most goals wins the game. A game consists of two 30-minute halves with a 10-minute half-time break. More Hockey Definition Hockey is played with 11 players on each team. Players use their hooked hockey stick to control, dribble and hit the ball. The object is to score goals by putting the ball in the opposing team's goal. The team to score the most goals wins the match. More Judo Definition Judo, which means "gentle way", emerged from jujitsu during the 19th century in Japan, but did not become a competitive sport until after the Second World War. A match between two fighters lasts until one of them has scored the maximum 10-point ippon or until an allocated time expires, after which the result is determined by judges based on a point-scoring system. More Kabaddi Definition Kabaddi originated in India where it is still a very popular game. It is played with two teams of 12 players each, five of them substitutes. The object of the game is to reach the highest score by touching or capturing the opposing team's players, all the while chanting "Kabaddi-Kabaddi". There are varying forms of the game. More Karate Definition Karate is a combat sport that employs a formal method of physical and mental training. All punches, kicks, blows and strikes must be controlled and pulled back before contact to avoid injuries to either contestant. The word 'karate' originated in 1922. More Rowing Definition Rowing is a traditional sport that is divided into two basic types of competitions: regatta and head-of-the-river races. The regatta is decided by knockout, with a final being to determine the winning crew. Head-of-the-river races are decided by the crew that achieves the fastest time over the course. More Rugby Definition Seven Aside Rugby is a fast and exciting game, which varies from the usual fifteen aside team game. A Match shall be played by no more than seven players in each Team on the playing area. A Team may nominate no more than five replacements/substitutes. A Team can substitute or replace up to three players. The game is 40 minutes long comprising two (2) twenty (20) minutes halves and a 5 minutes half-time break. Variations may exist from one affiliate to another. The game ceases when play becomes “dead” at the expiration of time. If a penalty has been awarded when times expires, then the penalty place kick (tap) must be taken prior to conclusion of the game. More Sailing Definition Yachting (sailing) is held on specially marked-out courses or offshore. There are many different classes of yacht, most of them using only sail power. More Sepaktakraw Definition The name of the game comes from the words "Sepak", a term used in Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia which translates into "kick", and Takraw, a term used in Thailand which means "woven ball". More Shooting Definition Shooting is a target sport that covers a number of different types including: rifle, clay pigeon, skeet, down the line, free pistol and rapid fire shooting. They all use different weapons and ammunitions. More Softball Definition Softball is an outdoor sport that was originally played indoors. The team that scores the most runs wins the game. There are two types of softball: fast-pitch and slow-pitch. More Soft Tennis Definition Like regular tennis, soft tennis is a racket game played on a court of two halves, separated by a net. It is played by individuals (singles) or pairs (doubles), whose object is to hit the ball over the net, landing within the confines of the court, with the aim of preventing one's opponent from being able to hit it back. Soft tennis differs from regular tennis in that it uses soft rubber balls instead of hard yellow balls. It is played primarily in Asia, especially in Japan and Taiwan. More Squash Definition Squash is a racket sport that is played on an enclosed four-walled court. The ball can be bounced off any wall within the marked lines; every shot must come off the front wall before hitting the ground. It is normally played by two players, but doubles squash is also a recognised sport. The object of the game is to win points by ensuring that your opponent is unable to return your shot before the ball bounces twice. More Table Tennis Definition Table tennis is played between two players (singles) and four players (doubles). Players use solid bats to hit a small white ball back and forth across a table divided by a low net. Players take turns to hit five serves in row, and win a point if their opponent fails to return the ball. The first player to reach 21 points wins the game. More Taekwondo Definition Taekwondo originated in Korea. The term is made up of three parts: tae (the foot), kwon (the fist) and do (the way) - the way of foot and fist. More Tennis Definition Tennis is a racket game played on a court of two halves, separated by a net. It is played by individuals (singles) or pairs (doubles) whose object is to hit the ball over the net, landing within the confines of the court with the aim of preventing your opponent from being able to hit it back. More Triathlon Definition Triathlon is a three-part discipline comprising swimming, cycling and running. The three sports are contested as a continuous event without a rest. The triathlon can be an individual or team event over varying distances. More Volleyball Definition Volleyball is a ball game played by two teams of six players who use their hands or arms to hit the ball over the net. The winning team is the one that scores the most points - achieved by making the ball touch the ground on the opposition's side of the court. More Weightlifting Definition In weightlifting, the competitors aim to lift a weighted bar above the head and hold it under control until signalled by the referee to replace it on the platform. Weightlifting is split into two separate lifts - the snatch, and the clean and jerk. Competitors get a maximum of three attempts at each lift. More Wrestling Definition Wrestling is an individual combat sport fought between two wrestlers on a mat. They can use different styles and techniques in a bid to throw their opponent to the ground and pin him down to register a fall. The wrestler who achieves the fall is declared the winner of the bout. More Wushu Definition Wushu is the Chinese term for all styles of martial arts - traditional and contemporary, external and internal. More

Horse Racing... Horse racing is one of the oldest sports most favoured in this country. The Equestrian Club organizes a number of seasonal horse race meetings, in which competition becomes more intense with hefty financial prizes offered for winners. International horse beauty contests held in the country are the focus of attention and appreciation locally, regionally, and internationally. Falconry... These birds of prey were used originally by Bedouins to hunt game, providing an important addition to their diets. In Qatar today, the tradition of falconry remains a major sporting activity during the hunting season from October to March. During the off-season, owners and falcons continue with training exercises. Its incredible eyesight allows the falcon to lock onto its prey; it can fly at speeds of over 100 kilometres per hour and dives at twice that rate. An important bond is created between owners and falcons, and the birds are treated with great care and respect. Golfing... For the enthusiastic golfer, a visit to the Doha Golf Club is absolutely a must. This 18-hole, 7,181-yard, par 72 championship course was designed by Peter Harradine and has played host to major international golfing championships. There is also available a nine-hole floodlit academy course and a splendid clubhouse with three restaurants and golf shop. The long-established Mesaiseed Golf Course also offers an outstanding course and has tennis courts and a swimming pool. Diving... The warm, shallow waters of the Gulf make Qatar an ideal place for beginner divers. For enthusiastic divers, there is enough interest to keep divers happily occupied, and many people acquire their skills here. Constructed of sunken cars and oil-drums, two artificial reefs have been built for scuba-diving and create a welcoming environment for marine life, including a large variety of fish, crustaceans and corals Boating and Sailing... Sailing is a wonderful pastime and several private companies offer dinghies and windsurfers for rent, as well as sailing lessons for novice and experienced sailors. A sunset cruise on a traditional dhow in Doha Bay provides a stunning view of Doha at night, while luxury yachts can be rented for half- and full-day fishing trips. Water Sports... There are both jet-skiing and water-skiing rentals, as well as pedal boat, water cycle, and kayak rentals. And for the extremely adventurous, try parasailing, surfing, or wind-surfing. Equipment is available through most hotels. Deep-Sea Fishing... A true fishing enthusiast could not ask for more! Whether you’re an expert or a novice, you will enjoy this experience. While you fish, a delicious barbecue will be prepared onboard. Asian games 2006... The 15th Asian Games will be held in Doha from Dec 1st to 15th, 2006. India will win atleast 20 Golds. Arbitration will be based on the medal tally appearing on the Asian Games website the day after the close of the games.