GCO and sports industry leader Fanatics sign strategic partnership
Five-year deal features Global Fanatics Fest sponsorship starting June 2025
The Government Communications Office (GCO) has announced a strategic partnership agreement with Fanatics, a global digital sports platform. The agreement was signed during Web Summit Qatar 2025, which concludes today at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center.
The five-year partnership includes a sponsorship of Fanatics Fest, a premier global sporting event that gathers elite athletes, business leaders and celebrities. The Fanatics Fest sponsorship will begin with the 2025 edition of the three-day sports festival, which runs 20-22 June 2025, at the Javits Center in New York City.
Sheikh Jassim bin Mansour bin Jabor Al Thani, Director of the GCO and Chairman of the Permanent Web Summit Organising Committee, said: “The Fanatics brand has significant reach and meaning for fans of all ages and locations worldwide. To work with Fanatics and bring an incredible experience for attendees at Fanatics Fest is a significant partnership opportunity. We look forward to a collaboration that elevates Fanatics Fest to new heights, and we hope to one day bring Fanatics Fest to Qatar where our passionate sports community can participate.”
The partnership aligns with Fanatics’ expansion strategy to reach more fans in emerging international markets. For Qatar, it creates fresh opportunities to strengthen its presence in the global sports arena through direct involvement in major sporting events, reinforcing its position as a world-class destination for sports, tourism, culture and innovation.
Michael Hermalyn, President of Fanatics VIP, said, “We are reimagining what a global partnership truly means in today’s world, where sports, business and community are all blending. I have great respect for Sheikh Jassim and together we will find unique ways to amplify the unique network that Fanatics has built, including thousands of athletes, sports executives and celebrity relationships, to create memorable experiences for sports fans and business leaders of Qatar, while also reintroducing everyone to the region.”
This partnership further underscores the GCO’s commitment to enhancing Qatar’s presence in global tourism, cultural, and sporting events. It also reflects the nation’s vision of promoting cultural exchange and community engagement worldwide.
