AS REPORTED BY SPEED ON THE WATER: For those Offshore powerboat racing fans who are looking to watch the upcoming Qatar Cup in real time but can’t make the trip to Doha, Qatar in order to do so, you’ll now be able to thanks to live-streaming and television coverage planned for the event. That’s the word from Steve Curtis, the Spirit of Qatar team’s United States spokesman, who currently is in Qatar for planning meetings for event to occur in early February.
The live stream of the Qatar Cup will be hosted on the Qatar Marine Sports Federation website.
“While I don’t have the final details, the Qatar Cup will be televised,” said Curtis in a telephone interview. “The event will be streamed live online, and we’re even developing an app so people can watch it on their smart phones, get laps times and more information in real time.”
Curtis has said this week’s meetings included representatives from the Qatar Marine Sports Federation, the Union Internationale Motonautique (powerboat racing’s internationally recognized sanctioning body) and the newly formed Offshore Powerboat Grand Prix series. The organizations involved all agreed to what Curtis has called a “five-year molding program” commitment for the Qatar Cup.
“Jason Miller (OPGP’s general manager) and Sheik Hassan (bin Jabor Al-Thani of the QMSF) are signing the contract tomorrow,” said Curtis.
There are 40 teams currently committed to participating in the Qatar Cup, of which 12 reportedly are coming from the United States. Using the logistical services of Qatar Cup affiliate GAC Pindar, the U.S.-based raceboats and equipment are planned to be shipped on Dec. 8 out of Jacksonville, Fla. The names of the U.S. teams will be formally announced the day boats depart for Qatar.
All teams will stay at the Doha Hilton, another Qatar Cup sponsor and the host hotel for the event.
“There will be an event for the race teams every night,” said Curtis. “A lot of the guys haven’t been here before. Attention to detail is how we will build this event. We want to make the racers feel special, because they are special. They are the talent.”
Photo courtesy/copyright Qatar Marine Sports Federation
