Ooredoo
Qatar, the nation’s leading telecommunications company and a steadfast advocate
for cultural and sporting heritage, is proud to announce that it is the
official telecommunications partner and sponsor of Shalfa Race the HH The Amir
Sword Festival, set to take place on Saturday, 17 February 2024, at the Al
Rayyan Racecourse. The event, a highlight of the HH The Amir Sword Festival,
reinforces Qatar’s status as a premier destination for world-class equestrian
sports.

The Shalfa
Race, open to individual Qatar-owned Class 2 thoroughbreds aged four years and
above, will see elite equine athletes compete over a challenging distance of
2000m. The winner will be awarded the coveted Shalfa (spear) trophy, a symbol
of equestrian prowess and excellence.

This year’s
total prize money is a remarkable $400,000 US dollars, underscoring the race’s
prestige and international importance.

Sheikh Ali
Bin Jabor Bin Mohammad Al Thani, CEO of Ooredoo
Qatar, commented: “Ooredoo Qatar is honoured to be the
title sponsor of the HH The Amir Shalfa Race, a testament to our commitment to
Qatar’s rich equestrian heritage and our support for top-tier sporting events.
This race not only celebrates the spirit of competition and excellence but also
aligns with our values of fostering community engagement and showcasing our
nation’s cultural richness on the global stage. We eagerly anticipate an event
that promises to captivate both local and global audiences.”

HE Issa bin Mohammad Al-Mohannadi, Chairman of the
Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC), said: “We are pleased with this
sponsorship by Ooredoo as part of the joined desire to achieve more of the
aspired successes and to contribute to bringing the HH The Amir Sword Festival
to the highest level befitting the status it has reached in the horse racing
world both in terms of organization and the level of competition between the
horses in the various races. This sponsorship comes as a natural development of
the partnership between the two parties as Ooredoo has already supported
several of QREC’s activities. Ooredoo will be the sponsor of the HH The Amir
Shalfa Race, which will see a good number of some classy horses capable of
winning the title. Ooredoo’ sponsorship of one of the main highlights of this
global event will certainly contribute to enriching the Festival.”

Last year,
the race was won by ‘King Pacha’, owned by Khalifa Bin Sheail Al Kuwari,
trained by Gassim Ghazali, and ridden by Mickael Barzalona. This year, the race
is set to be an equally thrilling showcase of the finest thoroughbreds and
jockeys from around the world.

The Shalfa
Race is a centrepiece of the HH The Amir Sword Festival, held from 15 to 17
February 2024. Ooredoo’s sponsorship of the event underlines its dedication to
supporting and preserving Qatar’s rich heritage in equestrian sports.