The city had been the only bidder and was officially awarded the Championships by the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) at its Council meeting today in Kuwait City. 

Qatar proposes to hold the event in Aspire Dome in Doha between October 12 and 28, although these dates still have to be confirmed. 

Doha's delegation had been led by Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, secretary general of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and Ali Al Hitmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation.

The Aspire Dome in Doha will host the 2018 World Artistic Gymnastics Championships
©Qatar Gymnastics Federatio

The bid centred on Qatar's increasingly impressive record of hosting major international events, its youthful population, outstanding modern infrastructure and growing emergence in gymnastics.

The campaign focused upon an '"all in one" concept which would see candidate city Doha host the championships at the world-class Aspire Zone, which will include a competition arena, accommodation and expert medical services for elite athletes courtesy of Aspetar.

Established only in 2000, the Qatar Gymnastics Federation has made rapid progress as a successful event organiser.

It has already hosted seven editions of FIG World Cup Series and been involved in organising gymnastics at the 2006 Asian Games and 2011 Arab Games 2011 and staged the 2008 Asian Championships and the Gymnasiade in 2009.

Ali Hal-Itmi, President of the Qatar Gymnastics Federation, FIG President Bruno Grandi, Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, secretary general of the Qatar Olympic Committee, and FIG secretary genera;l André Gueisbuhler after it was officially announced Doha will host the 2018 World Championships ©FIG

The World Artistic Championships are the oldest event on the gymnastics' calendar having first been held in 1903 in Antwerp, who also held the most recent edition last year.

They are held annually, except in Olympic year when they do not take place.

This year's event is due to take place in Nanning, China, with 2015 taking place in Glasgow.

The 2017 edition of the Championships still has to be awarded by FIG.

Qatar has never won a medal in the event but will have high hopes in 2018 for Rahma Mohammed Al Dulaimi, who has qualified to represent the country at this year's Summer Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing. 

She earned her place after finishing sixth in the all round at the Junior Asian Gymnastics Championship in Tashkent last month.
 Rahma Mohammed Al Dulaimi could be Qatar's best hope of success at the 2018 World Championships in Doha ©Qatar Gymnastics Federation

The World Gymnastics Championships is just the latest in an already long list of major international sporting events due to take place here in the coming years.

These include the 2014 International Aquatics Federation (FINA) World Short Course Swimming Championships, the 2015 Men's World Handball Championship, the 2016 Cycling World Road Championships and the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

They are also bidding for the 2019 International Association of Athletics Federations Championships, which received a major boost here last night with the successful hosting of the opening leg of the 2014 Diamond League series. 

Everything is geared towards a successful campaign from Doha to host the Olympics and Paralympics following failed bids for 2016 and 2020.

They are expected to bid again for 2024.