Venues Directorate, Director, Nasser Ali Al Mawlawi says, "We look for ease of movement for spectators from and into the stadium, upkeep of the venue according to international standards, liaising with the international sports federations to ensure venue is of high standard. We also liaise with the technical committee of a particular sport to ensure all logistics and operations are exactly as it should be, security processes, access and facilities for teams, practice facilities, F&B outlets for spectators and players, liaising between all appropriate departments for infrastructure support, etc."

There is also a great deal of interaction between different agencies. "The sporting federations technical committees provide us the requirements of venues that should be there during play and practice.

"Over the past one year, they've advised us on various amenities and facilities that should be placed, along with specifications. We have done this, and the sports federations and the technical delegates who have constantly visited Doha have commented very favourably on our readiness," Al Mawlawi adds. The local Sports Federations are the bodies responsible for managing the competitions they will run them in cooperation with the Asian Federations.

On transportation of athletes, Deputy Director General, Operations (DO) Yousef Mohamed Al Othman, says, "Athletes and officials will be transported at appointed times between the Athletes Village and venues, for practice and official events. The system is already in place and trained staff has everything in hand.

The test events held at Lusail Shooting Complex, ASPIRE and the West Asian Games allowed us to fully assess the transportation needs of athletes, officials and media."

A place to compete, a place to stay
A landmark of any Games is the purpose built athletes' village. Though in recent weeks countries have been asked to prune their contingents, as the total number of athletes coming in, exceeded the number of beds available at the village.

However, Al Qahtani pointed out, at a press conference during the Torch Relay launch, that the village was built as per the regulations of the OCA, which stresses that the village accommodate 'no more than 10,000 beds'. The athletes' village now stands at a little over 10,500 beds. The problem with numbers came up due to the increase in both number of sports and number of countries.

DAGOC earlier this month wrote to the relevant national Olympic councils and asked them to reduce their numbers or find alternative accommodation as the Athletes' Village was not capable of housing the final  list of 13,600 athletes and officials registered for accreditation.

Of the 204 athletes and officials Singapore is sending to the Games, only 173 will be accommodated at the Athletes Village. Malaysia is also facing the same problem as 19 members of its team may have to stay elsewhere despite the country having downsized its contingent from 359 to 335. Sieh Kok Chi, the Olympic Council of Malaysia Secretary General, blamed the situation on the overambitious DAGOC.

The Philippines had announced a contingent of 400 composed of 267 athletes and 133 officials, but they were allotted only 316 beds. The Japanese delegation has gone a step further, and is considering bringing in air beds to share rooms. The Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) has filed a protest to the organizers of the Asian Games.

"We are asking the Japanese Embassy and local Japanese companies to help find us accommodation," JOC president Tsunekazu Takeda said. "Some of us must be prepared to sleep in the living rooms of apartments at the athletes' village," he told a meeting of the JOC executive board.

DAGOC had informed the JOC that they will be able to provide only 693 beds for the 811-strong Japanese delegation including 628 athletes. The Japanese squad is 30 fewer than that which took part in the 2002 Games in Busan, Korea.

But Al Qahtani is positive that things will run smooth. "The size of the contingents does not mean that the entire number will be here throughout the duration of the games. Athletes will be coming and going based on their competition schedule, so the beds allocated will be enough. It's all to do with management," he had stressed. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has approved the final arrangements of DAGOC.

"The OCA, in coordination with DAGOC, has ensured that all athletes and officials whose names have been forwarded by the respective National Olympic Committees will be accommodated at the Asian Games Village and there is no cause for concern in this regard," OCA Secretary General Raja Randhir Singh has said in a statement.

On the greatest concern in operating the village, Athletes' Village, Director, Hamad Al Tamimi says, "This will be the first time in the history of Asian Games where such a large number of countries and regions will be participating. Our concerns will be to ensure every single individual with individual tastes and national sentiments is taken care of by our well-trained staff. Our meticulous planning has already made us aware of this task and we should have no problems. "We anticipate nearly 10,300 athletes and officials to be the residents of the Village each night."

There will be more than 1,500 volunteers, paid staff and various contractors' personnel at the Village, he adds. "All these individuals and teams are given specific tasks and are well-briefed on their roles."

Of the facilities, he says, "The Village has 32 residential buildings for athletes and team officials, 811 apartments for athletes and team officials, 45 apartments for chefs de mission and 45 NOC offices and 15 Residential Centres. A polyclinic, dining hall, laundry rooms, recreation centre, gymnasium, cinema and religious centres will all be housed on the campus. Furniture is already being moved into parts of the village, which will host some 7,300 athletes and 3,000 team officials each night."

The Athletes' Village will officially open its gates on 15 November 2006. "However the Village will start receiving and accommodating NOC officials from 10 November. This will give them the opportunity to complete their Delegation Registration Meetings and ensure that the arrival and settling of their teams is done in the smoothest possible way," says Al Tamimi.

On handing over the village to the Hamad Medical Corporation, he says "Two days after the Games end, the village will close. The facilities will then be customised for medical use and handed over to Hamad Medical Corporation in phases."

From the start to the finish
While individual sporting events will draw their niche fans to the stadium, the opening and closing ceremonies are bound to attract huge crowds to the sports city.

Ceremonies and Cultural Events Director Sharif Omar Hashisho is confident that the Ceremonies will truly be memorable experiences for the Qatari people and for an expected global television audience of more than 3 billion.

"The installations of staging and the hydraulic elements are now in place as is the lift for the 60-metre high, 150-tonne steel Cauldron that will provide the seat for the Asian Games Flame. The various elements of the stadium staging coverings and dance floors have been built in Canada, Switzerland, USA and the UK. Many props, sets and other scenery have been built in Australia.

"Some 250 contractors from various parts of the world are involved in the staging of the Opening Ceremony, which is expected to last for three and a half hours. The Closing Ceremony will last for under two hours, and will include a concert."

David Atkins Enterprises of Australia has been entrusted with producing the most technologically advanced and innovative Opening and Closing Ceremonies ever staged at an Asian Games.

"We have promised that the world will witness something truly special," says Hashisho. More than 8,000 personnel will be involved in the Opening Ceremony 5,000 of them volunteers along with 2,500 people from the Ministry of Interior who will perform as part of the welcome segment of the Ceremony. There will be 500 different performers from all over Asia including many dancing troupes and acrobats.

"A varied programme has been planned, including the de rigueur fireworks display of exciting proportions. Music, as always on such sporting occasions, will form a major and integral part of the proceedings.

Guangzhou Philharmonic Orchestra will be performing live at the Khalifa Stadium, while the Sydney Philharmonic and the Slovak Radio Orchestra will provide the specially-recorded pieces for the occasion. Top singers are being lined up. The range of live singing on offer on 1 December will include a duet by opera singers one European, one Middle Eastern, but both well known in their respective regions a rock and roll-based song and an Asian ballad."

Auditions followed by selection and rehearsals began in May of this year. Some 4 million air miles have been flown by DAGOC staff in preparation for the Ceremonies. And here are a few more interesting numbers 7,300 props, 2,370 tonnes of steel and 10,000 costumes that will be needed for the Ceremonies.

Costume fabric alone will stretch 50km, including 1,000m of gold braid. There is 40km of cabling, 58km of steel wire and 150 buses for volunteers and performers which, if parked end to end, would reach 1.8km.

Some 8,000 volunteer performers and artists from 20 countries have already put in 1,000 hours of rehearsal so they will be able to entertain the 40,000 spectators watching inside the Khalifa Stadium and billions of worldwide TV viewers.

Volunteering commitment
From ceremonies and transportation and the athletes' village and media coordination, every aspect of the organization of The Games involves the dedication of thousands of volunteers.

Human Resources Director Sultan Johan Al Abdulla says that over 30,000 men and women, not only from Qatar, but also from the Gulf region and even further field, have volunteered to help out at the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

"This is the biggest volunteer pool ever assembled in Qatar and perhaps in the Middle East region. The focus has now shifted to ensuring that each volunteer assigned to a suitable role is well trained with high skill sets. "Over 200 overseas volunteers, travelling to Qatar on their own expense are among the workforce.

Our database now has nearly 16,000 trained volunteers ready to be deployed for their specific roles, made up from almost 100 countries and regions. The mix is approximately three men to every one woman," he says.

But how have companies and institutions reacted to releasing staff for volunteer duty? "Volunteerism is the backbone of the Games. We can have all the infrastructure and planning, but all this will come to nought if we don't have dedicated volunteers with us all the way. The companies and institutions understand the value of deputing their personnel for duty. It benefits not just the country and the Games, but also the company which currently employs them. The professional training and bonding that we impart allows the volunteer to better serve his employing company, which will certainly produce very high yields in terms of performance."

On scheduling their work, transportation and other needs during the Games, Al Abdulla says, "We have mapped out all these elements and all logistics are worked out. Our programme has not only fixed their schedules and transportation to their workplace, but their roles are also determined according to the individual skill sets.

"The volunteers are trained for jobs ranging from meeting delegations at Doha International Airport, to escorting athletes onto their field of play as also to be part of the media centres, practice areas, ticketing, F&B, etc. The 3rd West Asian Games was the best experience for the volunteers. "We utilised the services of nearly 3,000 volunteers for WAG."

A learning for corporates
Doha 2006 will be as much a learning for the organisers as it is for their partners. This has been the first big opportunity for local companies to sponsor an event of this magnitude. Except for Samsung, the rest of the Prestige Partners are local players like Qatar Airways, Qtel and QNB.They have brought in the monies and key expertise to The Games.

Says Marketing & Public Relations Director Hala Ramzy, "We have excellent relationship and coordination with every Doha 2006 partner and official sponsor. We have ensured all associated rights, benefits and opportunities are properly explained to them which then are integrated into the sponsor's corporate philosophy and in their overall strategy.

"We have concluded two major workshops for the sponsors while  a dedicated DAGOC manager has been appointed for each sponsor to ensure that everything progresses in a smooth fashion. By sharing in the spirit of the Games, sponsors have aligned their brands with that of Doha 2006 and continue to correctly communicate the message of celebration, friendship and respect."

Ramzy adds, "There were concerns voiced ahead of the first workshop held in February this year. However, the workshop and then subsequent meetings and the second workshop in August allowed them to realize the potential of Doha 2006 to assist their brands, as well as DAGOC's capabilities to ensure their product, brand and company image was well protected."

DAGOC has set up an account management system with the OCA's marketing agent whereby each partner and sponsor has a dedicated account management team for day to day contact and for Partners to become familiar with the contractual rights and recognition programme.

"This team encourages all Partners and Sponsors to use their contractual rights and get the maximum benefit from their investment into the Games," says Ramzy.

Roving eyes
The second largest group of people after the athletes are the media from across the world. Broadcasting and Media Services Director Patrick Furlong says, "Up to 2,400 press representative, 1,500 rights holding broadcasters and 2,100 host broadcast staff will work to cover Doha 2006."

On meeting the needs of the media, he says, "All accredited media will be accommodated in the Media Village, in brand new apartment towers. The Media Village will be open from 1 November to 19 December.Accredited media will have access to three primary transport services: 1) Doha International Airport to Media Village and return 2) The Media Village to Main Media Centre and 3) Main Media Centre to competition venues.

"The Main Media Centre (MMC) combines the Main Press Centre (MPC) and the International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and will be home to up to 6,000 media and broadcasters during the Games. The MPC will be open from 15 November until 18 December and will operate 24 hours a day from 24 November to 16 December.

"The MPC team will manage all support services and facilities used by the accredited print media including telecommunications and technology, news, results, help desks, press and photo working areas and three press conference rooms."

The Media Services will provide and manage Media Sub-Centres (MSCs) at every competition site during the Games. MSCs will be open to the media at least four days before the first day of competition at the venue or by 27 November at the latest.

Facilities will include:
Venue press and photo working areas, appropriately sized and equipped for the discipline(s) involved
Tabled and non-tabled press tribunes to provide journalists with a clear view of the field of play
Television monitors carrying live feeds of the sports action (the exceptions are Mesaieed for the equestrian desert endurance event which has no broadcast coverage, and Qatar Bowling Club, where only the finals of bowling will be covered)
Mixed zones in which to meet and interview athletes after (and where appropriate during) competitions
Media conference facilities
Photo positions allowing clear views of the sports action

MSC services will include:
Asian Games News Service (AGNS): start lists, results, flash quotes, event previews and reviews available from pigeonholes
INFO2006 stations with access to AGNS reports
Help Desk
Technology and telecommunications support
Photocopy and fax services
Catering where possible and appropriate to the location and timing of the competition
Lockers

Drawing the crowds
If traffic is a nightmare now, then few are brave enough to visualise what it would be during The Games. Are people going to don their battle gear, face the traffic and land in stadiums?

That is the question (one of a few) on everyone's lips. Will the stadiums be filled? In an earlier interview, Director General Al Qahtani had said that his main concern was spectators. "We can have the best venue, planning, coordination, and broadcast, and if the stadium is empty the players will not enjoy it." He had also promised that the momentum will be built closer to The Games, so that at least 60 percent is filled, if not a 100.

More recently, he stated that ticket sales have been encouraging. Especially for little known sports like Wushu and Kabbadi. What is being done to make it easy on the spectator?

Deputy Director General, Operations (DO) Yousef Mohamed Al Othman says a public information campaign will be launched shortly to educate the public on the likely diversions that will occur due to the introduction of over 1,500 Games vehicles.

On traffic jams, he says, "The Doha Traffic Department is part of the Games Security Task Force. They are in close contact with the DAGOC Security Directorate and the Transport and Signage Programme to develop a comprehensive traffic plan during  the Games. DAGOC is also working closely with Ashghal to understand and minimise the impact of the road works on traffic for the Games."

With regards to transportation, he adds, "We are working very closely with Mowasalat who are contracted as official transport supplier. We advised them of the anticipated Games-time demand. DAGOC's scope of work is to deliver Games' services including transportation for the officials and accredited guests only. However, we spare no effort in coordinating with government agencies, including the traffic department to estimate gamestime demands."

Transforming Ambition into Reality
DOHA 2006 expects 2,050 female athletes to attend from all over Asia. They will be involved in 28 out of the 39 official sports. The Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee views female athletes as an integral ingredient in the Asian Games and hopes it will begin a legacy towards evolving women's sports in Asia.

Even so, some may view the 'Muslim female athlete' as a contradictory term in itself. The participation of women in sports kicked off with the establishment of the Qatar Women Sports Committee (QWSC) in 2000 under the auspices of Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Misnad, President of the Supreme Council for Family Affairs. A year later, QWSC joined the Qatar National Olympic Committee (QNOC) under the directive of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President of QNOC.

With the formation of QWSC, Qatar's young women are being provided with more opportunities to pursue their sporting interests to higher competitive levels. QWSC has heralded the opening of several women sports centres where women sporting talent can be discovered and developed under the guidance of specialised female coaches in all fields of sports. QWSC is also a member of Arab, Asian and international organizations, including the Asian Working Group for Women and Sport, the Arab Women in Sport League, the International Federation of Women in Sport and the Islamic Women Union.

The woman chairing this remarkably new undertaking is Dr Anissa Al Hitmi. Qatar Today, in an exclusive interview, talks to Dr Al Hitmi, the woman driving forth the vision of female participation in sports in Qatar.

"Our goal is to identify, develop, educate and train home-grown elite athletes to compete in sports at the highest levels. We have a unique talent identification programme, which assesses children from the age of 11 in schools across the country, selecting the very best for scholarship to the Aspire Academy," stated Dr Al Hitmi.

QWSC supervises seven training centres in Qatar that aim to train women for the national teams in the fields of basketball, handball, volleyball, table tennis, swimming, gymnastics, archery and shooting. Today, more than 200 young Qatari girls are training within the centres in hope to become one of Qatar's future athletes.

In addition, Qatari women are represented in more than 20 of the country's 28 sporting federations in order to promote the interests and goals of the QWSC.

"In less then six years, Qatari women have achieved so much. Qatari woman are and will continue to participate in local, regional and Arab competitions. In the shooting, we achieved many achievements.

The last of them is getting the silver medal in the Arab Championship that was held in Algeria in 2004. Qatari women have also participated in the Munich Championship and in Milan, Italy, Finland and also in Asian championships in Thailand, Korea and in Malaysia. But the Qatari woman is not only participating in competitions she is also participating in other fields such as in the referee field. Qatari female referees participate in handball, shooting and basketball. On the international side of the events she has refereed in gymnastics and shooting. So the Qatari woman not only participates in the competition but also in other sport fields. We are seeking that the Qatari women represent Qatar in the international organizations and we are trying to achieve this goal by giving a lot of training courses and field courses," said Dr Al Hitmi.

"QNOC has been active in supporting and raising awareness amongst the Qatari community to promote women in sports. It is important to increase women's participation not only in competitions, but also as coaches, sports media, as referees and in leadership positions, in Qatar and also in the rest of the Arab World," she added.

The Women's Club and Sports Hall
With Sport City-Qatar, the nation is already in the race for creating a regional hub for sporting events, recreation and leisure, health and wellness, education, sports science, and medicine and tourism. Sports City will also be home to the Women's Club and Sports Hall the first of its kind in the country and possibly in the Gulf that has been specially designed keeping in mind the sporting and recreational needs of Doha's women; aiming to offer them a relaxing meeting place with all indoor and outdoors sports facilities that a modern club should possess. The dedicated facility includes a health spa, business centre, library, tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, squash courts, hairdresser and beauty parlour, restaurant and cafe.

"The establishment of this facility shows the incredible support that female sport receives in Qatar. It is our fervent desire that this support will give the chance and the confidence to our people here to be more involved in sports and to allow women to participate in sports in Qatar on a larger scale. This establishment was especially created to support sport and especially to support the ambitions of female athletes. We hope that this will be a meeting ground that will help gain the trust of parents in the interest of the females to encourage them to participate. The Hall itself is just one part of the immense sporting visions of Qatar and clearly reflects the country's ambition to gain success on the world's sporting stage for both men and women alike," said Dr Al Hitmi.

Sports a Women's Right
"The biggest challenge that faces the Qatari women in the past and now in the present time is the social side.

In that respect I am referring to the traditions and the customs of our society. Our society is changing and there is a movement of change all over the world. So the Qatari women have to adapt and be part of the chain of change. In this change the Qatari women has to participate and represent Qatar, because Qatar is a state of possibilities. And we want to make Qatar a capital of sports; not only in the Asian region but all over the world. The Qatari woman has to adapt herself and has to live within this challenge; and has to change and adapt according to the traditions and customs that prevail in our society. It is important to increase awareness within the Qatari community while maintaining our traditions and our culture and in this regard we must tread carefully," explained Dr Al Hitmi.

Dr Shokouh Navabinejad, a religious leader in the Islamic Republic of Iran, stated during the QSi World Sports Conference held in Doha that the right to physical education has been declared a human right but in certain countries, traditions and religion make it difficult for women to participate in Sport. She gave an example of the post-religious revolution in Iran where the Government was faced with two options: Either prevent women from participating in sport or have only-women sport and sport infrastructure. Both Iran and Qatar decided for the latter.

Imposing New Traditions
The fact though remains that Muslim female athletes are a rarity. During the Olympic Games, where almost half the participants are female, women from Muslim countries represented almost an invisible minority.

In societies that adhere strictly to a Muslim lifestyle and code of conduct, this means that Muslim female athletes must continue to respect Muslim laws and traditions, namely that the body must remain covered.

The QSI World Sport Conference in Qatar challenged international sporting goods manufacturers in providing sports clothing which is both practical and competitive, but which also safeguards the requirements of the Islamic faith which demands modest dress. A male QNOC official stated that male athletes were generally 'more decently' dressed than women. "They are using women just for publicity, just look at tennis and track and field," he added. So unless Muslim women are provided with the right equipment clothing the fact remains that they will be restricted in their ability to compete and participate in sports.

Even so, Qatari female athletes are striving to excel in sports in fields that they view socially acceptable according to their cultural norms. And despite what some may pronounce as cultural barriers, Qatari women have achieved remarkable feats in the field of sports.

"In Qatar, as you know, we started just five years ago. Despite this, we have a large number of women players who have achieved a lot success, especially in shooting field and in the rifle. We have Mariem Raabia who almost qualified for the Olympics. Nada Zeidan we know that she is excellent in her shooting and archery, but she is more famous for participating in her car race driving. We have very good players and we also have very distinguished women in the administration who also play a very important role model role for the younger female generations," stated Dr Al Hitmi.

And with sports in Qatar considered not just a physical activity but also an important component of the country's overall progress, Qatari female athletes are paving the way for that success. Dr Al Hitmi proudly added: "Doha 2006 has provided us with a remarkable challenge. It is a big challenge and we hope it will make Qatari female athletes dreams come true. The 15th Asian Games not only gives the Qatari women her chance on her soil, it also gives the State of Qatar a chance to be on the map in the international world thanks in part to her efforts."

Games People Play
Artistic Gymnastics
Gymnastics (from the Greek world "gymnos" meaning "naked art") involves the performance of sequences of movements incorporating six distinct disciplines: artistic, rhythmic, trampoline, aerobic, acrobatic and general.

The first three disciplines are included in Olympic Games and Asian Games programmes. Gymnastics requires a high level of flexibility, agility, strength and rhythm, as competitors bravely perform set moves on the floor or in the air.

History:
Men and women of ancient Greece enjoyed bull-leaping, and gymnastics were part of the ancient Olympic Games.

The term "artistic gymnastics" emerged in the early 1800s to distinguish free-flowing styles from the techniques used by the military. Although viewed as a novelty by many, gymnastic competitions began to flourish across Europe in the 19th century.

In 1881, the International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) was founded in Liege, Belgium, making it the oldest international sports federation. When the Olympic movement was resurrected at Athens in 1896, gymnastics made a fitting return.

The Olympic programme really took off in 1924, with men competing for individual medals and in team events on each apparatus. Four years later, women began competing in Olympic gymnastics at Amsterdam.

By 1952, the Soviet Union had become the leading force in Olympic gymnastics and since then the US and China, along with eastern European countries have all made their mark on the world stage. Artistic gymnastics was first introduced to the Asian Games programme at the 7th Asian Games in Tehran, Iran in 1974.

Archery
Archery is a target sport that requires great powers of concentration and technique. Using a bow and arrow, the aim is to shoot the target with points awarded for accuracy.

It is a sport that requires a surprising amount of strength and stamina. Modern arrows can fly at more than 240kph. There are two main types of modern bow: the recurve and the compound.

The compound bow, with its system of pulleys, makes the string far easier to draw, while the traditional recurve design makes it more difficult to aim accurately. Only the recurve bow is allowed at the major tournaments such as the Olympics and the Asian Games.

Targets are marked with 10 concentric rings, which score from 1 to 10; the nearer the arrow to the middle, the greater the score.

Asian countries are currently the best in the world at shooting the recurve bow, with Korea consistently achieving medals at Olympics and world championships, and India making strong performances.

History:
Archery has a long history and was used in hunting and warfare. The first archers were hunters looking to kill animals for food. Later bows and arrows became a feared weapon of war.

The ancient Egyptians are known to have used bows and arrows in 5000BC. It was a popular weapon of war among many ancient civilisations, and many mythological characters, including Apollo and Odysseus, are often depicted carrying bows. Today most archers shoot their bows for sport, to test their accuracy firing at a target.

Archery was part of the 2nd Olympic Games in Paris in 1900, returning in 1904, 1908 and again in 1920, but then disappearing for more than 50 years. It reappeared in Munich in 1972 and has remained a fixture ever since.

In the Asian Games, archery competitions were held in Tokyo in 1958 and Jakarta 1962 then, after a 16-year break, it has returned at every Asian Games since Bangkok 1978. The International Archery Federation (FITA), the world governing body, celebrates its 75th anniversary this year.

Equestrian - Endurance
Endurance riding is an extremely strenuous form of horse racing, requiring the horse to complete, at the top levels, up to 100 miles. Winning riders complete these 100-mile rides in 10-12 hours. Any breed can compete, but Arabians generally dominate the top levels because of their incredible stamina and natural endurance.

Riders must have a great knowledge of pace and know when to slow down or speed up during the ride.They must also have great knowledge of their horse's condition and watch for signs of tiring. In some countries, the winner is determined by a combination of speed and the recovery rate of the horse.
 
In other countries, no places are given and awards are presented to any horse and rider that achieved a required standard. Endurance riding will be introduced to the Asian Games for the very first time in Doha 2006.

History:
Throughout history there have been long distance rides, transporting armies, passengers and mail. The Pony Express, for instance, achieved incredible long-distance speed records.

The person who is accredited with creating modern competitive long-distance riding is Wendell Robie, an American breeder of Arabian horses. In 1955, Robie founded the Western States Trail Ride, which was a 100-mile, one-day ride from Lake Tahoe to Auburn, California via an old Pony Express route.

Originally, completion of the race was the goal because it was a real achievement considering the altitude, terrain and weather extremes.

In 1959, the Tevis Cup was awarded for the first time to the rider with the fastest time. The Haggin Cup has been awarded since 1964 to the rider finishing in the top ten with the horse in best condition. Endurance rides have sprung up all over the world since then, based on Robie's competition, and last years World Championships took place in Dubai.

In 2003 alone, 251 International competitions took place and the number continues to rise every year.The average number of riders per competition is 45.

Equestrian events have been on the Olympic programme since 1900, when jumping contests were held in Paris. They next appeared in Stockholm in 1912 and have been a part of the Olympic Games since. Hopes are high that endurance riding will be introduced to the Olympic programme in the near future.

The Asian Games embraced equestrian sport at the 9th Asian Games in Delhi, India in 1982 and has been a regular part of the Asian Games programme since the 12th Asian Games in Hiroshima, Japan in 1994.

Canoe-kayak
Canoes and kayaks are small and narrow boats propelled by one or more people using a paddle. Competitors race down a straight, flat-water course. Unlike rowing, they face in the direction of travel and the paddle is not attached to the boat.

The two main differences between canoe and kayak concern seating position and paddle. In a canoe, the paddler kneels on one knee, propelling the boat with a single bladed paddle. In a kayak, paddlers sit with legs extended forward and use a double-bladed paddle.

Canoe-kayak competitions are an extreme test of physical strength and stamina. Races often end in dramatic finishes with boats making late runs for the line from behind.

History:
Canoes and kayaks began their history as a simple, practical method of transport on coastal and inland waterways.

The two main types developed were open-topped canoes, used in warmer climates such as North and South America and the South Pacific, and closed-topped kayaks, developed by the Aleuts and Inuit in the Arctic.

The Royal Canoe Club of London was formed as the first canoe-kayak sporting organisation in 1866. The New York Canoe Club was established five years later.

Canoeing first featured in the Olympics as a demonstration sport at the Paris Games in 1924. It became a full medal sport at Berlin in 1936 with both canoe and kayak events. Women first entered the sport, competing only in kayaking, at the 1948 London Games.

Kabbadi
Kabaddi is sometimes referred to as the "game of the masses" due to its popularity in Asia and its simple format. No sophisticated equipment is required to play the game.

Kabaddi originated in South Asia and is played with two teams of 12 players (seven on court, and five in reserve). The game consists of two halves of 20 minutes each. Two teams complete, alternating between defence and offence.

The purpose of the game is to reach the highest score by touching or capturing the opposing team's players, while continuously chanting "kabaddi-kabaddi". Points are scored by raiding into the opponents' court and touching as many defence players as possible without getting caught. Players on the defensive side are called "antis", while those on the offence are "raiders".

The raider enters the opponent's court chanting the word "kabaddi" while holding his breath and has to continue to do so until he returns to his home court. Antis touched by a raider during the attack are declared "out" if they do not succeed in catching the raider before he returns to his home court. The game calls for agility, good lung capacity, muscular coordination and quick reflexes.

History:
Kabaddi dates back to pre-historic times, being used to ward off attacks by individuals and vice-versa. The game was popular in southern Asia, played in different forms under different names.

The game, known as hu tu tu in western India, ha-do-do in eastern India and Bangladesh, chedugudu in southern India and kaunbada in northern India, has undergone a sea change through the ages. Modern kabaddi is a synthesis of the game played in its various forms under different names.

The Kabaddi Federation of India (KFI) was founded in 1950, establishing standard rules and regulations for the game. The first Asian Kabaddi Championship was held in 1980.

The first World Kabaddi Championship (Circle Style) in the history of the game was organised in Hamilton, Canada, when about 14,000 spectators gathered to watch stars from India, Pakistan, Canada, England and the US compete.

The first recognised World Cup in kabaddi as per Asian Amateur Kabaddi Federation (AAKF) and Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) norms was organised at Mumbai, India, in 2004. Kabaddi was first included as a competitive sport at the Asian Games in Beijing, in 1990.

Sepaktakraw:
Sepaktakraw is a highly skilled game, requiring specific techniques in "handling" the ball.

Sepaktakraw is played on a court with a hand-woven ball (takraw) by teams made up of two or three people on each side. Points are scored by hitting the ball above the net and into the court (about the size of a badminton court) as the opposing players attempt to "block".

Kicks, often performed mid-air at shoulder height, form the basis of the game. The word "sepak" is Malay the game originated in Malaysia) for kick and 'takraw' means woven ball. In sepaktakraw, players are not allowed to use their hands. They can use the feet, legs, shoulders and head to keep the ball in play. Players routinely spike the ball, turning acrobatic somersault movements or bicycle kicks in mid-air to keep the ball in play.

In its early days, the idea of the game evolved by juggling a rattan ball in the air for as long as possible without using hands or arms. When the game was formalised, with opposing teams divided by a net, players developed the dazzling display of acrobatic twists, turns and body swerves that make the modern game a thrill to watch.

History:
The game developed from "sepak raga", played in the Malay states in the 15th century. Players stood in a circle kicking a 'raga' to keep it in the  air for as long as possible without using their hands.

Variations of the game have been  played in other south-east Asian countries and sepaktakraw games were recorded in the cultures of south-east Asian nations as early as in the 11th century.

It was called takraw in Thailand, sipa in the Philippines, sepakraga in Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei, ching loong in Myanmar, rago in Indonesia and kator in Laos.

Sepaktakraw came about when enthusiasts in south-east Asia added a net and a set of rules similar to volleyball to make the game more challenging and competitive.

An exhibition match was held in Penang, Malaysia in 1945 where it received a tremendous response and the game spread like wildfire throughout the rest of the Malaysian peninsula and south-east Asia.

In 1960, a standard set of rules and regulations for the game was established. The sport was renamed 'sepak takraw' and introduced to the South-east Asian Games (SEA Games) as an official medal event.

Synchronized Swimming
A hybrid of swimming, gymnastics and ballet, synchronised swimming involves competitors (either individuals, duets, or teams) combining strength, endurance, flexibility, grace and artistry with exceptional breath control particularly while upside down underwater.

For the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006, duets and teams will perform figures from a set list, including positions like the Crane and the Eiffel Tower, in the Technical Routine. Competitors will be marked according to criteria like accuracy, stability and uniform motion for each specified figure.

In the Free Routine there are no restrictions on music choice, content or choreography. When performing, competitors will typically wear a nose clip. Hair is pulled back into a bun. Goggles are not worn because they are considered distracting and take away from the beauty of the routine. Competitors can wear customised swimsuits and headpieces, usually elaborately decorated, to reflect the music they are using. The costume and music are not judged directly, but can add to the overall artistic impression.

Synchronised swimming is one of only three sports at the 15th Asian Games (along with softball and rhythmic gymnastics) contested exclusively by women acrobatics in a glass tank. The sport was further developed in 1915 through the addition of music.

History:
Synchronized swimming is a relatively new discipline, originating in the early 20th century. Water show activities gained popularity in the US when Australian swimmer Annette Kellerman toured the country performing water acrobatics in a glass tank. The sport was further developed in 1915 through the addition of music.

In the 1920s, a group of Canadian women, led by water polo player and diver Margaret Sellers, developed what they called "ornamental swimming" from life saving and swimming techniques. Kellerman was an inspiration to a woman who would become a Hollywood phenomenon: Esther Williams.

The US freestyle swimming champion and Olympic contender portrayed Kellerman's life in the musical Million Dollar Mermaid. She also performed in a string of MGM 'aqua musicals' in the 1940s and 1950s, which inspired young girls everywhere to begin learning synchronized swimming.

Over the next 20 years the sport grew, became very technical and athletic, music was added to the routines, and the name changed to 'synchronised swimming'. In 1960, after a world tour, US swimmers demonstrated the sport at the Olympic Games in Rome. Synchronized swimming became an Olympic sport in 1984 with solo and duet competition.

An eight-person team event replaced the singles at the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. The reigning Asian Games single's champion is Japans' Miya Tachibana who took gold with 97.667 points in Busan.

Trampoline
Trampolining is a competitive sport in which gymnasts perform acrobatics while bouncing on a trampoline.These can include simple jumps in the pike, tuck or straddle position to more complex combinations of forward or backward somersaults and twists.

There are two related competitive rebound sports: synchronised trampoline and double mini-trampoline (DMT). Trampolining today is mostly conducted in specialist gyms with certified trainers.

History:
In the early 1930s, George Nissen observed trapeze artistes performing tricks when bouncing off the safety net. He made the first modern trampoline in his garage to reproduce this on a smaller scale and used it to help with his diving and tumbling activities.

He formed a company to build trampolines for sale and used a variant of the Spanish word trampolin (diving board) as a trademark. So began a new and exciting sport.

In the USA, trampolines were quickly introduced into school physical education programme s and were also used in private entertainment centres. However, following a number of injuries and law suits caused by insufficient supervision and inadequate training, trampolining is now mostly conducted in specialist gyms with certified trainers. Elsewhere in the world, the sport was most strongly adopted in Europe and former Soviet Union.

The International Trampolining Federation became part of the International Gymnastics Federation in 1999. Since trampolining became an Olympic sport in 2000, many more countries have started developing programmes and China is already producing very competitive athletes.

Wushu
Wushu, the Chinese word meaning "martial art", originated in China and is composed of two disciplines: taolu (routines) and sanshou (combat). The competitive routines are based on different styles of techniques and movements.

Performances include bare hands, sword and broadsword as short apparatus; spear and cudgel as long apparatus. Both are characterised by deliberate and powerful movements (stances, kicks, punches, balances, jumps and sweeps) particular to the style. Competitors are given points based on their wushu "taolu" or forms, which are martial art patterns and manoeuvres.

History:
Wushu dates back to the Zhou dynasty (11th century BC to 256BC) in China. In legend, Wushu traces its origins back into antiquity, when Shaolin monks from Chinese Buddhist temples harboured retired soldiers who taught them self-defence techniques. Around AD500, in an effort to protect themselves from bandits and criminals, the monks began to codify what they had learned into a "shaolin kung fu" style.

Wushu has developed over the centuries through the incorporation of various other martial art forms. It is now practiced in countries and regions around the world.

In 1990, the International Wushu Federation was established and it holds the World Championships of Wushu every two years. The first was held in Beijing, in 1991. In 2002, the federation was recognised by the IOC, and today it represents 97 federations from all continents.

Wushu was first introduced to the Asian Games in 1990, and later was a part of the programme for the 14th Asian Games in Busan, in 2002.

© Qatar Today 2006

 

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