QSi makes 17th Arabian Gulf Cup the richest in history

QSi's Platinum Partner packages tagged at $1.5m were quickly snapped up by Etihad Airlines, Toyota, Q-Tel & QIC, with Doha Bank & Emaar reacting positively to the growing excitement surrounding the region's most exciting and prestigious sporting property.

'Etihad Airlines, Toyota and now Emaar properties are terrific international partners for QSi to have brought in as Platinum Partners' said Perry Smith QSi's Director International Relations & Marketing. 'In addition strong global brands like Airbus, ExxonMobil and Samsung have demonstrated their enthusiasm to utilise the Gulf Cup sporting platform to reach their regional clients. Similarly with strong regional brands based here in Qatar such as QIC, Q-Tel and Doha Bank. We look forward to the best Arabian Gulf Cup ever!' Whilst being non committal on the exact amounts raised, Smith said that he 'expected event revenues to be counted well into double digit millions of dollars, especially when TV rights, merchandising and ticketing are added to QSI's impressive total of sponsorship revenue.'

In addition to the revenues raised by QSi, Al Jazeera Sports TV, the country's own host broadcaster for the event, has sub-licenced the rights to countries with teams competing in the competition thus raising additional revenues. The whole tournament will be seen extensively across the Gulf States, Iraq, Yemen accessing in excess of 80 million consumers in the 8 competing nations alone. Other sports channels across the region have been particularly keen to acquire the rights. Al Jazeera Sports coverage extends well beyond the region to some 300 million potential viewers across N Africa & the Levant.

The 17th Arabian Gulf Cup opens on Friday 10 December in the newly constructed Al Sadd Sports Club, the newest addition to Qatar's growing list of impressive sports infrastructure projects underpinning the country's sporting aspirations well beyond the 2006 Games in Doha. Following the opening ceremony, the first of two soccer matches will see hosts Qatar play neighbours, UAE.

QSi is the Qatar National Olympic Committee's own sports business directorate established by the President QNOC in 2003.

QSi was granted the exclusive marketing rights to the 17th Gulf Cup in April this year.