Falcon tradition inspires passion in World Cup host Qatar

A man with a falcon in Doha, Qatar, recently. The falcon is considered Qatar's national bird. Photo: AP

Qatar has become a focal point for soccer since winning the right to host the World Cup. But another sport is flying high in the historic centre of the capital, Doha, as over a million foreign fans flock to the tiny emirate: Falconry.

At the bustling Souq Waqif, a 100-year-old labyrinth marketplace in Doha, shops selling spices and souvenirs give way to stores, and even a state-of-the-art hospital, filled with the famed birds that have long inspired passion among Bedouin tribes.