China's companies play a crucial role to keep domestic and international audiences engaged in sports. The country is home to a market of about 1.4 billion people. Sporting events, such as the Formula One Sinopec Chinese Grand Prix started in 2004, the International Basketball Federation's World Cup 2019, have taken place here and the country hosted the Summer and Winter Olympics in 2008 and 2022.
The Chinese are big soccer fans as well. According to estimates, China accounted for the second-biggest turnout from a non-qualifying country in FIFA World Cup Russia 2018 with each Chinese traveler spending about $7,500.
There's a rising middle class in China. In 2000, the Chinese middle class made up just 3 percent of its population. By 2018, the figure exceeded 50 percent to nearly 707 million people. There are economic opportunities for the rest of the world, since China, before the pandemic, was the world's largest spender on global tourism.
China's mobile, real estate and dairy giants including Vivo, Wanda and Mengniu sponsored the 2018 FIFA tournament and generated over one-third of the event's $2.4 billion advertising revenue. In the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the Chinese team isn't playing but the country's conglomerates are the biggest sponsors, outspending the world's leading brands. A London-based data analytics and consulting company estimates that Chinese firms have amassed a whopping $1.4 billion compared to $1.1 billion by U.S. companies.
Large spending from China-based enterprises helped expand football on international and domestic levels. Additionally, basketball and badminton are among the most popular sports in China. Football doesn't lag far behind. FIFA's viewership data in 2018 showed the Chinese' great interest and was the largest territory for its global reach.
Qatar has poured over $200 billion to build seven new stadiums, a new metro system, roads, new airport and other major infrastructure. China has been there all the way through.
The landmark Lusail Stadium was constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation in a joint venture with a Qatari contractor, while its featured on a 22 Qatari Riyal commemorative banknote. The stadium is the country's largest, expected to host 10 games including the chanpionship game. A solar farm, incorporating cooling systems to help players and spectators adjust to the local climate, supplying power from outside the city.
The construction of Lusail Stadium deepened China-Qatar relationship, boosting trade to the economy and infrastructure development, building on the leaderships' decision to develop ties on strategic partnership after Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani visited Beijing in 2014. Bilateral relations continue to witness significant development as Doha has strengthened the strategic relationship through cooperation including in energy, reservoirs, ports and wireless communication networks.
An estimated 1,500 projects, including 888 electric buses, souvenirs and the Al-Kharsaahsolar power plant are representing China, as well as complementing Qatar's commitment to deliver a "green World Cup." Laee'b, meaning super-skilled player in Arabic and the official mascot of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, was mass-produced in China's Dongguan city. Beijing also gifted two giant pandas to Doha.
The diplomatic blockade of the Asian states has worsened ever since Joe Biden was sworn in as U.S. president. Some Western countries didn't exempt sports and embraced the America-led diplomatic boycott of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. As the "hypocrite West" applies the same strategy regarding Qatar, this prejudice should be opposed.
From Afghanistan and Iraq to Syria and Libya, the U.S. has led wars or masterminded unrest in the Middle East and North Africa. While political meddling in the region along the lines of Asia-Pacific, China will continue to support Qatar and other Gulf allies to prevent this epic Arab moment from spoiling. The "longest" 27-year deal in the history of the liquefied natural gas industry between the two countries will increase Beijing-Doha ties and take forward the bilateral relations to a long-term strategic partnership.
*This is my opinion piece that first appeared at "China Global Television Network (CGTN)":