Massive facelift for Qatar, but will it be a white elephant?
An AFP Report Copied here, Read on and Comment.
PARIS: Gas-rich Qatar has an embarrassment of riches in its banks and big dreams in its sleep. It may need both if the $2.8 billion invested in infrastructure for the 15-day Asian Games is not to go to waste. The tiny Gulf state is home to just 700,000 people, most expatriate foreign workers, but the country’s rulers believe that the Games will provide a lasting legacy.
From extravagant plans to host the 2016 Olympic Games to the more modest 2015 Asian Cup, to boosting tourism and cutting obesity, they insist that the spectacular infrastructure changes will be of enormous benefit. “Qatar is a nation that is still relatively young but sport has always been the backbone of the country,” said Games official Wael Barghouti. “We are enforcing our position in the region as a sports hub and the Asian Games will give us the track record we need.” Some plans for the future are already solid. The athletes village, built to hold 10,300 people, will become part of the city’s central medical complex and will include a new 1,000-bed hospital, facilities for children, orthopaedics, physical medicine, a dialysis centre and a nursing home. On the sports front, the spectacular Aspire complex is key.
The largest indoor sports dome in the world will host gymnastics, badminton, weightlifting, wrestling, boxing, wushu and kadaddi all under one roof at the Asian Games. It covers 290sq metres and includes 20 classrooms, eight full-size soccer pitches, an Olympic-size swimming pool, a 200-metre athletic track, a diving pool, gymnastic hall, multi-sports hall, table tennis arena and squash courts. Nearby is the refurbished Kahlifa Stadium which will hold the opening and closing ceremonies and the athletics programme and has already hosted numerous crucial World Cup meets. For Qatar, their Olympic dream has impressive foundations also in its yearly sports diet which already includes an ATP and WTA tennis tournament, world championship motorcycling and a grand prix squash event.
Officials are also working on bringing events like the world indoor athletics championships and the world short court swimming championships to Doha. Qatar is pressing home its schedule with up to 20 international events planned for the first three months of 2007, many of them utilising the Asian Games facilities. But their Olympic dreams are matched by neighbours Dubai as well as a host of cities like Cape Town, New Delhi, Tokyo, Bangkok, Rotterdam, Hamburg and Leipzig, Madrid, Istanbul, Rio de Janeiro and Montreal. Dubai would be loathe to lose out to its neighbour and is basing its Olympic credentials on the $2 billion Dubai Sports City.
“The UAE is ready, via the Dubai Sports City, to hold the Olympics,” said Mohammad Al Gergawi, UAE Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs. Dubai Sports City chief executive U. Balasubramaniam told local newspapers: “The very fact that Qatar is pitching for the Olympic Games is good news for the Middle East in general. “Should the Government of Dubai also intend to make a bid, as I believe they will, they will have the backing of Dubai Sports City. “We are confident that Dubai Sports City has the capability of staging an event like the Olympic Games in the future.” Dubai Sports City, covers approximately 50 million square feet and features four stadia - a 60,000 seat multi-purpose outdoor stadium, a 25,000 capacity cricket stadium, a 10,000 seat multi-purpose indoor arena, and a field hockey stadium for 5,000 spectators.
Away from the sporting legacy, Qatar further hopes the international exposure of the Asian Games will also see a boost in tourism. Doha’s new airport will open in 2009 at a cost of $5.5 billion. The Games too could have a political and social legacy. Politically, to finally prove that Qatar is not a subordinate of big brother relation Saudi Arabia. Socially, to act as a solution to the growing problem of obesity in the region; a recent report estimated that up to 70 percent of women and 50 percent of men living in the Gulf states are overweight or obese. AFP
I wouldn't like to see Doha to copy Dubai's example in terms of turism...you know, drunken and prostitutes all over...
I think Qatar could be a nice family holiday destination and water-parks and ammusement parks would be ideal...But it would need a lot of work
So far, sorry, but it's not going in the right direcction.
sailing, motocross. All of these things could be developed and would help increase Qatar's appeal as a tourist destination.
sand dunes........also part of tourist attraction....
not every country has desert/sand dunes...
but how many times would u like to visit the sand dunes ??
Does anyone have a kids going to a free gym class from Aspire? I used to take my son there. I heard the free lesson suppose to be for locals, the government provide the qualified teacher, venue and everything. But unfortunately no locals interested in sports/sending their kids to any exercise class. Most of the kids where my son used to go were expats (either arab expatriate or western expatriate or asian expatriate). And now the government planning to put the charge starting next January. Maybe because no qatari interested now they want to make more money from the expat community :-)
I was at the City Centre Mall yesterday, hadn't been for a while, and I was really struck by the size of all the overweight locals... and they do wear the most flattering clothing possible, ideal for hiding a fuller figure.
Who ate all the pies?
“Qatar is a nation that is still relatively young but sport has always been the backbone of the country,” said Games official Wael Barghouti.
The article below from the Peninsula totally contradicts the statement above from Wael Barghouti. When has sports EVER had anything to do with Qatar. Watching Tennis from the VIP lounge doesn't count. The Nationals don't seem to have any interest for sports. Even the parents of all the fat, lazy kids don't see any value in sports activities. I think he means obesity and diabetes is the backbone of Qatar
Schoolchildren losing interest in sports classes
Web posted at: 11/19/2006 8:16:59
Source ::: The Peninsula
DOHA • Schoolchildren’s craze for new-age games coupled with their parents' reluctance to send the children to sports classes, have reduced these classes into mere fun hours.
Students, with their addiction to computer and various electronic games are fast losing their interest in sports classes. Their parents also think attending sports classes is sheer waste of time, reports Al Sharq quoting various teachers and experts.
Said Mariam Mohammed Abdullah, Curriculum expert, Supreme Education Council (SEC): "There was a time when sports classes were considered to be one of the most exciting hours at schools. Now, students find little interest in these classes, and are not voluntarily participating in games. With the authorities deciding to do away with the system of awarding marks for the performance in sports class, parents believe there is no point in their children attending these classes", she said.
Sports and games play a very important role in shaping up the personality of students. Unfortunately, parents forget this fact. Schools should convince parents about the importance of these classes, said Mariam Mohammed Abdullah.
She also wanted schools to consider the common talent and interests of a particular batch of students, before planning activities for them.
Nazami Helmi Al Jamal, Educational Supervisor, who cited the importance of sports and games in schools, wanted authorities concerned to convince parents about their importance.
Thamir Saeed Al Ahmari, a school principal said the ministry of education is offering all supports to the schools for the promotion of sports and games. "We have talented teachers and efficient coaches. But the response from students are not encouraging", he said.
It would take a lot of imagination and it would have to be significantly cheaper to have a hope of competing with Dubai. Possibly a poor man's Dubai? But if it was to work, it would have to have something unique to offer. Dubai has beaches, Qatar only a couple, Dubai has golf courses and racecourses, waterparks a ski slope, festivals etc.
Qatar would have to develop along these lines to have even a glimmer of hope. All I am saying is that it is possible. Just!
but to enjoy witer sun you need beatiful beaches. Dubai has a natural beauty and clean beaches, and that's something that Doha will never have cos money can't buy these... Besides, winter in Dubai is warmer than here.
if you lived in Europe and you wanted some winter sun. Dubai does very well out of this market. If Qatar could be competitive on prices and facilities it is possible that it could generate a small tourist industry. They would need to do a lot of work first though.
if u live somewhere in europe or asia ... will u spend your money to come to Qatar for holiday?
"Qatar further hopes the international exposure of the Asian Games will also see a boost in tourism"
I can't get my head round the idea of Doha being a tourist destination. I've heard it all, it wants to provide leisure for high-spending tourists, wants to be home of world class resorts...I dont get it...