Al Shaqab Vice-Chairperson H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani (right) and ExxonMobil Qatar President and General Manager Bart Cahir (second right), along with the officials talk during a meeting. RIGHT: A view of the Al Shaqab Equestrian Arena. ExxonMobil Qatar will sponsor the Chi Al Shaqab 2013 that will take place from March 27 to 30. A total of 170 riders from 25 countries will be taking part in this prestigious event.
Doha: ExxonMobil Qatar will be the main sponsor of the Chi Al Shaqab 2013 after the oil and gas company signed an agreement with H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson of Al Shaqab, yesterday.
The competition to be held from March 27 to 30, will be the first edition of the annual international equestrian competition to be hosted by Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation.
The four-day festival will play host to an assortment of world-class show jumping, dressage and endurance events with 170 riders from over 25 nations, along with 200 horses, expected to participate.
Over 10,000 visitors are anticipated at this prestigious festival, including members of the Qatari Royal Family and other leading dignitaries from the Gulf region, as well as local and international VIPs from the equine world.
The agreement was signed in the presence of Fahad bin Saad Al Qahtani, Al Shaqab Director and Chi Al Shaqab 2013 President, Suzanne McCarron, President of ExxonMobil Foundation and Bart Cahir, President and General Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar Inc. and other officials of Al Shaqab and ExxonMobil Qatar. The highly anticipated equestrian festival will be held under the patronage of H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, Al Shaqab Chairperson, and Sheikha Al Mayassa.
The event will take place at Al Shaqab’s state-of-the-art facilities, and will be the first event of its kind to take place in the Middle East and Asia.
In a statement after the signing ceremony, Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “Preserving and promoting Qatari culture is part of Al Shaqab’s obligations and a cause we have dedicated much time to. Moreover, the opportunity to host leading equestrian events provides a platform to raise global awareness on our facilities. This is crucial to our nation’s sport strategy, which itself is a central pillar of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
“Chi Al Shaqab brings together all these elements, and we appreciate ExxonMobil – not only for their support to this event but also for showing great belief in the equine culture of Qatar. The partnership will open doors for more cooperation in the future,” Sheikha Al Mayassa added.
Echoing these sentiments, Al Qahtani expressed his sincere appreciation to Al Shaqab Chairperson, Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikha Al Mayassa as well as the Al Shaqab’s board members for their continuous support and dedication to reach highest levels of success in this competition.
He said: “Al Shaqab has a clear strategy and is working in favour of this sport by organising the event annually.”
Speaking of the agreement with ExxonMobil Qatar, Al Qahtani said: “ExxonMobil has a long history of supporting equestrian events in Qatar. The organisation’s ongoing dedication to fostering a sport that is inherently tied to the history and culture of Qatar is in line with Al Shaqab’s own vision. This partnership represents a combined effort to promote and preserve the equine heritage and we are proud to be working alongside ExxonMobil to host the first Chi Al Shaqab.”
Cahir expressed his delight in sponsoring this prestigious event.
He said: “ExxonMobil Qatar is honoured to support an event of such national pride that features an important part of Qatar’s heritage.
“Chi Al Shaqab 2013 will pay tribute to this rich history, while also serving to promote the continued development of equestrian sports in Qatar and around the world. At ExxonMobil Qatar, supporting events of cultural and traditional significance that highlight as well as preserve Qatar’s unique heritage is an important part of our commitment to the community,” he added.
People who attend can enjoy family-orientated activities, including a fashion exhibition and trade market, a dedicated ‘kids zone’, an international food court, and a multitude of cultural presentations and events in the enormous 17,000 square metre plaza. THE PENINSULA
