By Andrew Warshaw
January 4 – The Gulf Cup kicks off this Saturday with the latest edition having considerable significance both for those taking part and a region that is increasingly catching the attention of international observers from football politics, commerce, and fans.
With Qatar staging the World Cup in just under a decade, the Gulf Cup tournament provides a chance for the eight teams involved to boost their international profiles in a region that is looking to catching up with more established hotbeds in terms of global interest.
Hosts Bahrain take on Oman in the opening match of the two-week event that sees Bahrain, Oman, the UAE and Qatar in one group – and holders Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Iraq and Yemen in the other.
Kuwait, which has won the title 10 times, will again start favourites in a competition that has been running since 1970 and has attracted strong broadcasting interest from across the region.
World Sport Group, the Singapore-based agency which owns the media rights to the tournament, has agreed terms to show games in the host nation and Oman. Broadcast deals have also been reached with Al Kass Channel, Abu Dhabi Sports Channel, Dubai Sports Channel, Saudi Sports Channel, and Kuwait Sports Channel.
Although Bahrain has been subject to the same civil unrest that has afflicted other parts of the Middle east, there have been no calls for a boycott of the Gulf Cup – as there were for Formula One. Tournament director Ahmed Al Nuami said free tickets were being given away as part of the ‘Bahrain: one Heart’ youth campaign which aims to overcome sectarian divisions in the wake of ongoing human rights protests.
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