Sports
Over the years, more and more sports have been added to the roster, making this an all-around competition with a little something for everyone. It even includes a para-athletics competition for disabled athletes. As well as popular sports like volleyball, football, tennis, handball, boxing, squash, golf, cycling basketball, swimming and various martial arts, check out some of these other sports in Qatar:

Athletics: A range of track and field events, including hurdles, high jump, pole jump, long jump, triple jump, shot put, discus, hammer throw and javelin throw, plus road running races, cross country races, mountain running and race walking.
When to see it: Competition begins on Dec.13 and ends Dec 16
Where: Khalifa Stadium in Aspire Zone, with the road competitions along the Corniche.

Archery: Way more than Robin Hood let on, the sport involves indoor, outdoor, field, 3D, para, ski, flight, and run.
When to see it: Competition begins on Dec 12 and end Dec 15
Where: Archery Range at Lusail Shooting Complex

Bodybuilding: In this men-only event, athletes train to develop their muscles to massive proportions, getting points in competition for detail and definition, as well as the proportions of their bodies. Competitors don itsy-bitsy teeny-weeny posing trunks and strike seven compulsory poses for the judges.
When to see it: Competition begins Dec 10 and ends Dec 11
Where: Tennis Indoor Hall at Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex

Bowling: No rented shoes here—competitors roll a ball down a wooden laneway to knock down ten pins, in Doha either individually in teams or in doubles and trios.
When to see it: Competition begins Dec 11 and ends Dec 15
Where: Qatar Bowling Centre

Cue sports: This actually means a set of sports played by two players on a table with a stick and balls, including in Doha pool and snooker. The difference? Snooker has different points assigned to each of the different colours of balls used.
When to see it: Competition begins Dec 11 and ends Dec 22
Where: Indoor Hall at the Qatar Billiards and Snooker Federation

Equestrian Dressage: No, this isn’t costumed ponies. Horse and rider compete in a series of movements including serpentines and figure eights.
When to see it: Competition begins Dec 14 and ends Dec 15
Where: Main Arena of the Qatar Equestrian Federation

Equestrian Jumping: One of the best known equestrian sports, horse and riders complete a series of 10 to 13 jumps, losing points if an obstacle is knocked down or the horse refuses to jump.
When: Competition begins Dec 21 and ends Dec 23
Where: Main Arena at Qatar Equestrian Federation

Fencing: En garde! Some consider this athletic sword battle more artistic, with competitors producing a spectacle of combat using one or more weapons.
When: Competition begins Dec 18 and ends Dec 23
Where: Indoor Hall at Al-Arabi Sports Club

Gymnastics: Gymnasts use a variety of equipment to perform routines in artistic gymnastics, while in the trampoline category athletes perform complex routines in mid air.
When: Artistic competition begins Dec 10 and ends Dec 14. Trampoline begins Dec 19 and ends Dec 20

Sailing: Broken up into fleet racing, where all boats compete against each other, and match racing, where two boats go head to head.
When: Competition begins Dec 14 and ends Dec 20
Where: Doha Sailing Club

Table tennis: Sometimes called ‘Ping-Pong’, it’s either played by singles or doubles, hitting a ball back and forth across a table divided by a net.
When: Competition begins Dec 10 and ends Dec 15
Where: Indoor Hall at Aspire Zone

Wrestling: Greco-Roman wrestling is a male-only sport where opponents try to throw their competitor to the ground and pin them to the mat.
When: Competition begins Dec 19 and ends Dec 20.
Where: Aspire Dome C4 at Aspire Zone

Just the facts

What: A multi-sport event held between Arab countries every four years. Organized by the Union of Arab National Olympic Committees, the Arab Games have been going on since 1953. Originally a men-only event, women have been competing in the Arab Games since 1985.
When: Dec 9-23
Where: All over Qatar
Tickets: Opening Ceremony tickets are QR50-QR150, Closing Ceremony are QR25. Events tickets are QR15 each, or QR40 for the Friends Package (4 tickets and 4 discount coupons) or QR50 for the Family Package (5 tickets and 5 discount coupons). Tickets are available at Virgin Megastore and www.virginmegastore.me.
For more information: check out www.arabgames2011.qa.