Updated

DUBAI -- In a 21st-century spin on pingpong diplomacy, North and South Korea and India and Pakistan will team up in a table tennis exhibition Tuesday aimed at promoting peace between rival nations.

The one-day event is sponsored by Monaco-based Peace and Port. It also features a Russia-United States doubles team, along with China-Qatar and France-Japan.

Iran was initially part of the 10-nation tournament. But Iran withdrew without explanation and wasn't on the final roster announced in October.

Qatar has been targeting sport as a vehicle to showcase its global aspirations. The Gulf nation will host soccer's 2022 World Cup and has offered a bid for the 2020 Olympic Games.