More than 1,200 athletes from 97 countries have qualified and confirmed their participation for the inaugural ANOC World Beach Games to be held in Doha from October 12 to 16.

The qualification process began in June last year with a majority of places drawn from world rankings or the highest finishes at the world and continental championships.

“We’re delighted to have close to 100 nations participating in the event. Since it’s the first edition, we were not sure how many countries would qualify. It has been fantastic to see athletes from big and small nations from all over the world achieve the qualifying marks over the past one year. The qualification process has already connected elite national athletes at various events and the Doha Games will provide them a global platform to connect with new stars and new fans. We look forward to welcoming them all to Qatar for what could be an unforgettable celebration of sport,” said ANOC Secretary General Gunilla Lindberg.

Competitions will be held in 14 events across 13 sports in Doha. Beach soccer will be one of the main draws. It will be held at the Katara beach with 192 players from 16 countries taking part in the men’s event and 80 players from eight countries competing in the women’s category. The five-a-side contest lasts for 36 minutes, divided into three equal periods.