Al Shaqab to host LGCT and GCL 2022 season opener

The iconic Longines Arena at Al Shaqab, a member of Qatar Foundation, will again provide the perfect stage for the spectacular launch of the Longines Global Champions Tour (LGCT) and the Global Champions League (GCL) 2022 season.
The 2022 edition of the world’s premier five-star showjumping championship, which will bring together the top-ranked riders and horses in their quest for individual and team glory, will kick off in Qatar’s dazzling capital city of Doha, from March 3-5.
Tickets for a thrilling weekend of equestrian sport, including exclusive VIP hospitality packages, are available now at q-tickets.com.
Equestrian enthusiasts have come to expect nothing less than high-octane action and exhilarating sporting drama at LGCT Doha, where the stars of the showjumping world vie for victory at Al Shaqab in the opening Longines Global Champions Tour Grand Prix of the season and, with it, the prized first golden ticket and a coveted spot in the Longines Global Champions Tour Super Grand Prix at Prague Playoffs in the final event of the year.
The GCL teams, meanwhile, will compete over two rounds in what promises to be an explosive battle for victory - and a chance to move a step closer to ultimate glory in 2022.
Fans will be hoping for a repeat of last year’s epic final-day LGCT Doha showdown, which saw Niels Bruynseels ride Delux van T & L to a highly emotional victory. The Belgian was awarded on the winners’ podium by Her Highness Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation, with a spectacular prize-giving ceremony rounding off three days of the highest calibre showjumping, which also saw the Valkenswaard United team of Peder Fredricson and Marcus Ehning clinch the opening GCL title.
The 2022 LGCT and GCL season will take riders and horses to 19 stunning locations all around the world starting with the championship season opener in Doha through major capital cities like Madrid, Paris, London, Rome and Shanghai, before culminating in the ultimate showdown at the Global Champions Prague Playoffs, in November.
Khalifa al-Attiya, Executive Director, Al Shaqab, said: “Al Shaqab is proud to once again be the venue for the prestigious launch of the LGCT season, and we can all look forward to the world’s finest showjumpers and horses lighting up the Longines Arena at Al Shaqab with their electrifying performances.
“The successful hosting of events of the calibre of LGCT Doha bears testament to Qatar’s status as an international sporting hub, and also Al Shaqab’s commitment to fulfilling its vision of being a leading global centre for equine excellence. Importantly, they also help Al Shaqab to instil in the broader Qatar community a love for the equestrian arts, in keeping with the country’s horse-riding heritage.”
Jan Tops, President of LGCT and GCL, said: “Al Shaqab is unique in the world, not only is it beautiful, it is well thought out and horse friendly and it is a very special venue to open the 2022 season with. Al Shaqab is a fantastic place to do our sport at the highest level and every year the team does something new and something more for the riders, public and stakeholders. With many Olympic, European, LGCT and GCL champions competing it is for sure going to be a top show. I would like to thank Longines, our title sponsors, Al Shaqab and ExxonMobil, as it wouldn’t be possible to kick of the 2022 year in Doha without them. ”
Since its establishment in 1992, Al Shaqab’s vision was to build on Qatar’s Arabian horse heritage and be a leading global centre for equine professionals, while providing an engaging experience for the community. Today, Al Shaqab’s impressive facilities, which are distinctively designed in the shape of a horseshoe, cover 980,000 square metres. With an iconic Main Arena comprising both indoor and outdoor venues capable of holding over 5,000 spectators, Al Shaqab is part of Qatar’s growing reputation on the world stage that showcases its ability to host major international sports event at the highest level.