Qatar launches bid for 2016 Olympics
Doha, the sports hub of the region, last night formally launched its bid to win the rights to stage the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016.
The Heir Apparent H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani joined thousands of onlookers, at the unveiling of the Doha 2016 logo, tagline and the official website at a brief yet bright celebratory ceremony.
The entire evening's programme, which lasted no more than an hour of song and dance sequences performed by artists standing in ankle-high water stage, was carried out just next to the Corniche coast lit up in bright moonlight. A short show of fireworks concluded the ceremony.
The ceremony was also attended by the Deputy Premier and Minister of Energy and Industry H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, Chief of the Emiri Diwan H E Sheikh Abdulrahman bin Saud Al Thani, and H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani among others.
Doha, host of the 15th Asian Games in December 2006, has now officially joined the race with six other cities -- Chicago, Tokyo, Madrid, Rio de Janeiro, Prague and Baku -- to battle for the Summer Games in 2016. The 2008 Olympics will be held in Beijing and the 2012 Games in London.
The Qatari capital, a city with world class sports facilities, is bidding for the Olympic Games glory for the first time. Doha, which currently enjoys the status of being an applicant city, announced its Olympic plans during the Asian Games last year.
A host of dignitaries saw Qatar's first and only rally driver Nada Zeidan fire an arrow into the Doha night sky, moments before the bid logo was projected onto a water screen rising from the sea and then onto the Qatar National Olympic Committee headquarters barely a kilometre away. Hundreds of schoolchildren, waving the Qatari flags, were also present.
Hassan Ali bin Ali, the Chairman of the 2016 Doha Bid Committee, said the Qatari capital is keen to bring the Olympic Games flame to an Arab state for the first time.
"Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 would bring the Olympic flame to the Arabic-speaking world for the very first time and extend the Olympic ideals to millions of new hearts and minds," Ali said.
"Our vision for the Games will be focused on the world's youth. It is among the young people of this region and the rest of the world that we must nourish the core values of respect, tolerance, understanding and hope -- and through these ideals offer them an opportunity to effect great and positive changes to the world that they will inherit," the Doha 2016 bid team chief explained.
Speaking about the tagline, Ali said: "A celebration is about unity and friendship; it is about optimism and commemorating change; it is open and welcoming; it overcomes barriers to cultures and peoples. The Olympic Games itself are the world's greatest celebrations. And in 2016, hopefully Doha will host the greatest celebration the Olympic Movement has ever seen."
Ali concluded: "The Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic bid can change Qatar. It can change this entire region. It can change the world. Now that will indeed be a change to celebrate." The new Doha 2016 website can be accessed in three languages -- English, Arabic and French. The address is www.doha2016.org.
The host city of the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be decided in Copenhagen in October 2009 during a special International Olympic Committee gathering which will be attended by all IOC member nations.
RIZWAN REHMAT
© The Peninsula 2007
