ASPIRE Dome and Aspire Tower to be illuminated as Part of Global Day of Observation; Qatar Diabetes Association and Health Authorities work together to Battle Major Challenge
Doha, Qatar: ASPIRE Dome and Aspire Tower will spectacularly light up the skyline of Doha in blue on 14th November as the international community marks the first ever United Nations World Diabetes Day,
The two landmarks will join over 160 of the world's most iconic buildings in turning the same luminous colour blue as the diabetes circle, the global symbol for the illness.
As well as the illumination ceremony, ASPIRE will host a walk around its Dome , as well as offering a range of diabetes tests and special sessions of ASPIRE Active fitness classes in a series of events co-organised with the Qatar Diabetes Association.
The light-up ceremony sees Qatar join a community of nations publicly marking World Diabetes Day. Sydney's notorious Opera House was one of the first buildings to join the campaign by agreeing to be lit blue.
Since then, the campaign has been joined by a host of global landmarks, including the Sears Tower, Tokyo Tower, Niagara Falls, the Burj Al Arab Hotel in Dubai, the Aleppo Citadel in Syria, the Obelisk in Buenos Aires, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and the building currently considered the world's tallest: the Taipei 101 Tower in Taiwan.
Dr. Abdullah Al-Hamaq, Executive Director, Qatar Diabetes Association, said: "Diabetes is a major challenge facing Qatar today, threatening the long-term health and wellbeing of the population. We are proud to be part of this global day of recognition of the challenges that this disease poses."
The UN-recognition of World Diabetes Day follows the passage of Resolution 61/225 in December 2006. It recognizes diabetes as a chronic, debilitating and costly disease that poses severe risks for families, countries and the entire world. The UN has thrown its support behind World Diabetes Day and encourages countries to act now to reverse the diabetes epidemic.
Today, 246 million people live with diabetes globally and if nothing is done, this figure will reach 380 million within 20 years. Qatar has among the highest incidence of diabetes in the region, with one in three Qatari adults suffering from either diabetes or glucose intolerance, a condition that dramatically predisposes them to develop diabetes in the next few years.
Dr. Thomas Flock, Director General, ASPIRE, said: "ASPIRE is proud to support awareness raising for this worthy cause. By participating in this event we hope to act as a beacon, raising attention of the illness among the people of Qatar and beyond and encouraging more people to develop a healthy and active lifestyle."
To mark the importance of World Diabetes Day, individuals are encouraged to wear the diabetes pin, which incorporates the blue circle - the global symbol for diabetes. Further details of the campaign and how people can show their support can be found at www.worlddiabetesday.org
People who would like to participate in the walk can assemble at the ASPIRE roundabout (between ASPETAR and ASPIRE Dome), at 4pm on Wednesday, 14th November 2007.
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The International Diabetes Federation (IDF)
The International Diabetes Federation (IDF) is an umbrella organization of over 200 member associations in more than 160 countries, representing almost 250 million people with diabetes, their families, and their healthcare providers. The mission of the IDF is to promote diabetes care, prevention and a cure worldwide. Its main activities include education for people with diabetes and healthcare professionals, public awareness campaigns and the promotion and exchange of information.
IDF is a non-governmental organization in official relations with WHO and associated to the United Nations' Department of Public Information. For more information, please visit www.idf.org.
Introduced by the International Diabetes Federation and the World Health Organization in 1991, World Diabetes Day has been celebrated by diabetes representative organizations worldwide ever since. The date of 14 November was chosen because it marks the birthday of Frederick Banting, who, along with Charles Best, is credited with the discovery of insulin. UN Resolution 61/225 establishes November 14 as a United Nations observed day from 2007. Visit www.worlddiabetesday.org for further information about the campaign and for a full list of landmarks that will light up.
About QDAQatar Diabetes Association (QDA) established as a charitable, nonprofit organization in 1995, Qatar Diabetes Association aims to be the leader in diabetes prevention and care, locally and regionally.
QDA provides education and outreach to people suffering from diabetes and to their families, and educates the general public about the disease.
Diabetes prevalence in Eastern Mediterranean and Middle East considered among the highest in the world.
By using the practical approach of openly exchanging useful information and experience, including individual patient care, group sessions, camps and workshops, the Association enhances the lives of people with diabetes and helps them to manage it so they can prevent the onset of complications.
QDA is an active member in IDF since 1997
About Aspire TowerThis 300-m iconic structure now stands as the tallest building in Qatar, clad in combination of glazing panels and architectural stainless steel mesh, which will be accentuated by state-of-the-art facade lighting. Aspire Tower, crowned by a steel parabolic lattice structure will be a backdrop
The mixed-use tower, which features a 63-m-high atrium, has a VIP lounge, ballroom and conference center on the lower levels. Above these is a five-star hotel accommodation, which is accessed by panoramic elevators. The central spine of the structure provides quick access to the other segments of the building that includes office suites, a health club with a cantilevered pool area, a self-contained presidential suite, a sports museum, a revolving restaurant, and a viewing deck, situated beneath the games flame candelabra that is encircled by a protective lattice structure. Continuing upwards at the top level at 215 m will be a revolving restaurant, which will be one of the highest in the world.
About ASPIRE
ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, was created with the dual aims of identifying and transforming promising student athletes into world renowned champions across a wide range of sports and to act as a beacon to draw sporting culture into the centre of life in Qatar and the surrounding region.
The Academy is distinguished by a philosophy which aims to develop the whole student, providing them with full academic, social and sporting development.
Unrivalled facilities mark the Academy out as one of the world's foremost sporting and educational institutions, and entice an ever increasing number of visitors from across the spectrum of world sports to use or simply view them.
With one indoor and seven outdoor football pitches, athletics tracks, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, diving pool, combat arenas, gymnastics arena, specially designed weight rooms, lecture halls, dormitories to accommodate what will eventually become 1,000 students, a medical centre and more besides, much beneath the world's largest purpose built indoor sports dome, every aspect of the development of elite athletes is catered for. ASPIRE is a place for those who dare to dream.
© Press Release 2007
