Gimnasium for the game?
http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7417/305529803b152f84c01btd3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

thanks for the pics

gulf express its 29th wednsday north doha torch realy 4:45pm Al Istiqlal St to Al Sham St

Some Venues:

Volleyball
http://img436.imageshack.us/img436/392/3026364483cb16f86cbbzp8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Basketball
http://img467.imageshack.us/img467/9545/301074008883bcb0df0bwq3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Al Wakra, Qatar - Mon 27 Nov
Games spirit on the Mesaieed Road

At last! The sun shone in Qatar, today, 27 November, the third day of the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay on home ground.

The wind, the greyness and the sporadic drizzle that had been much in evidence, especially yesterday, since the Doha 2006 Flame returned on Saturday, from its 55,000km epic international journey through 15 countries and regions, gave way to fine, dry and sunny weather.

In a country such as Qatar where the sun shines for more than 300 days of the year and, at times with intense ferocity, it was surprising that it had decided to stay away. But now the Torch Relay is well on its way to its historic date in the capital on Friday evening, when the Opening Ceremony of the Games takes place at the Khalifa Stadium, it was Qatar weather as usual.

First, though, for today, day 51 of the Relay, 27 November, the Flame paid a visit to the stunningly beautiful Inland Sea – Al Adaid – where the sun rose over the majestic sand dunes that surround it. For the surprising number of people who accompanied the Flame, it was after all only 04:00, it was a sight to remember

The Inland Sea is a place of real natural beauty, a place where part of the Arabian Sea meets a part of the Qatari desert – in near-embracement of each other. A place of sand dunes of varying heights and degrees of steepness; a place where the Qataris love to go at weekends with their beloved 4x4s for a desert safari. It provides great fun amid beautiful scenery.

Then the Relay began at Sealine Beach Resort carried on a sand ski and transported on two quad bikes. The first Doha 2006 Torchbearer to carry the Torch jogged off just before 10:00 along the beach near the Mesaieed Road in sunny conditions. At least another 170 would be involved in carrying the Torch by the end of the day’s 64km route at Al-Wakra, south-east Qatar.

Al-Wakra, once a small fishing and pearling village and only 15km from Doha, the capital, has now grown into a small town with a population of about 30,000.

Back on the road and the Torch Relay of the 15th Asian Games. The Torchbearers continued their epic march towards the next important port of call: the Al Banush Sports Club, where the Flame was greeted by hundreds of school children.

It was here that HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay Ambassador, made his first appearance of the day. Wearing a blue Torch Relay t-shirt and white track suit trousers, he assisted the Torchbearer, Rajesh Mulky Kamath, in lighting the Cauldron.

After an hour’s break at Al Banush Sports Club, the Flame left and, with the weather still good, headed for the industrial port town of Mesaieed, which has the country’s second largest population and many petrochemical and steel plants.

The people of Mesaieed gave the Torchbearers one of the most enthusiastic receptions seen so far on the Relay route. Hundreds of construction workers, all wearing their overalls, and hundreds of children waving Qatari flags were out on the streets, shouting encouragement to the Torchbearers. Scores of quad bikes also joined in, driving alongside the Relay.

Mesaieed, having entered the true spirit of the ‘Games of your Life’, was having fun and making the 15th Asian Games their Games – if only for a few hours.

dukan pics http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/torchrelay/thejourney/torchphotos.aspx

Prestige Partner: Qatar Airways

Qatar Airways is one of the fastest-growing airlines in the world.

It is therefore with much pride that Doha Asian Games Organising Committee announces Qatar Airways is on board as official airline of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

As national carrier of the State of Qatar, the company has made huge progress since it was re-launched in 1997. With personal attention and service quality the watchword, its service has rapidly expanded. Today Qatar Airways flies to over 70 destinations throughout the world and new routes are being added constantly.

Before, during and after the Asian Games, Qatar Airways’ contribution to the event is immeasurable.

Exhibitions are being staged throughout Doha, the company has published a media guide, delivered comprehensive coverage in its in-flight magazine, newly-branded seven aircraft in colourful Games livery and undertaken a major, games-linked TV advertising campaign, all with the aim of promoting Qatar Airways and the Asian Games to millions of people in Asia and the wider world.

Qatar Airways has taken the responsibility of flying in 30 members of the international media to cover the 15th Asian Games and will act as partner for every country and region competing at Doha 2006. With the motto ‘Taking you more personally’, all passengers can be sure to receive high-quality service from this high-quality airline.

They just look fantastic!
Would love to see the venues with my own eyes!

Anybody knows when will the relay proceed tomorrow?

al kore then doha north then doha south then the opening cerimones

I don't wanna know the route... I wanna know the timing, 'cause I wanna watch it on TV...

From aljazeera ch
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8730/20061128064213rw4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8194/20061128064417us4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7281/20061128064434rg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

well well :D what do we have here is taht aspir ?
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3667/20061128065212eu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

hehehe yes that's Aspire tower I guess! Wow!

Its huge! I can see it clearly whenever I walk in the Cornishe!

it was said that we see it from the cornesh and when its lighted it looks better

pic of yesterday torch relay http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/torchrelay/thejourney/torchphotos.aspx?id=106

video of yesterday http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/torchrelay/thejourney/torchvideos.aspx

Prestige Partner: Qatar National Bank

QNB, a Prestige Partner and the Official Bank of Doha 2006, provides a full range of investment, wealth management and Islamic banking services and products for individuals, corporate institutions and government.

QNB is the No 1 sports sponsor in Qatar and has supported events like Qatar Open Tennis tournament and domestic football competitions such as the HH the Heir Apparent Cup, and HH the Emir Cup. It recently signed an agreement with the Qatar National Olympic Committee (QNOC) to sponsor the country’s four major sports.

At Doha 2006, QNB will have retail branches at the Main Media Centre, Athletes’ Village, Temporary Airport Terminal with ATMs and mobile branches (where accessible) at all Games venues. It has also backed the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay, encouraged employees to become volunteers and provided financial backing for Tony Bullimore’s round-the-world solo sailing record attempt on his Catamaran Doha 2006.

Investment in sport is part of QNB’s corporate social responsibility and commitment to develop the capabilities of Qatari youth, who represent the essence of the community and future of the country.

Commercially, QNB has launched a special 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 Credit Card which offers applicants the chance to win tickets to the Opening and Closing Ceremonies. This credit card is also linked to the Reach Out To Asia (ROTA) charity, with 0.5 percent of the value of customer purchases donated to ROTA.

QNB is also planning a programme of events at the Sponsor Hospitality Village with local, regional and international VIP’s. The bank will also have showcase sites at venues including Market Street, ASPIRE, Al-Sadd Sports Club, Qatar Sports Club and the Corniche, with interactive public games such as mini sports competitions with gifts for winners.

www.qnb.com.qa

:cheer: Guys!!
Tomorrow the torch will be at Qatar Foundation ;)
A huge event will be taking place at the Ceremonial Court!
I will take some pics!
I dont know if anyone can come, but in case, it is starting at 2pm!!

:righton:

From aljazeera ch
http://img136.imageshack.us/img136/8730/20061128064213rw4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img206.imageshack.us/img206/8194/20061128064417us4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img175.imageshack.us/img175/7281/20061128064434rg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

well well :D what do we have here is taht aspir ?
http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/3667/20061128065212eu4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Man, how do you managed to take screenshots of aljazeera ch? Is there some way to watch that channel online?

So i could watch the torch relay & the ceremonies, because i really don't know where to see the event here :ohno:

I have Tv capture device in my computer so, when i`m lazy, i dont have to turn my face to watch tv :D I see it on the computer.

:cheer: Guys!!
Tomorrow the torch will be at Qatar Foundation ;)
A huge event will be taking place at the Ceremonial Court!
I will take some pics!
I dont know if anyone can come, but in case, it is starting at 2pm!!

:righton:

really ?

oh yeah just saw google earth i will run tomorrow !!!

Al Wakra, Qatar - Mon 27 Nov

Games spirit on the Mesaieed Road

At last! The sun shone in Qatar, today, 27 November, the third day of the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay on home ground.

The wind, the greyness and the sporadic drizzle that had been much in evidence, especially yesterday, since the Doha 2006 Flame returned on Saturday, from its 55,000km epic international journey through 15 countries and regions, gave way to fine, dry and sunny weather.

In a country such as Qatar where the sun shines for more than 300 days of the year and, at times with intense ferocity, it was surprising that it had decided to stay away. But now the Torch Relay is well on its way to its historic date in the capital on Friday evening, when the Opening Ceremony of the Games takes place at the Khalifa Stadium, it was Qatar weather as usual.

First, though, for today, day 51 of the Relay, 27 November, the Flame paid a visit to the stunningly beautiful Inland Sea – Al Adaid – where the sun rose over the majestic sand dunes that surround it. For the surprising number of people who accompanied the Flame, it was after all only 04:00, it was a sight to remember

The Inland Sea is a place of real natural beauty, a place where part of the Arabian Sea meets a part of the Qatari desert – in near-embracement of each other. A place of sand dunes of varying heights and degrees of steepness; a place where the Qataris love to go at weekends with their beloved 4x4s for a desert safari. It provides great fun amid beautiful scenery.

Then the Relay began at Sealine Beach Resort carried on a sand ski and transported on two quad bikes. The first Doha 2006 Torchbearer to carry the Torch jogged off just before 10:00 along the beach near the Mesaieed Road in sunny conditions. At least another 170 would be involved in carrying the Torch by the end of the day’s 64km route at Al-Wakra, south-east Qatar.

Al-Wakra, once a small fishing and pearling village and only 15km from Doha, the capital, has now grown into a small town with a population of about 30,000.

Back on the road and the Torch Relay of the 15th Asian Games. The Torchbearers continued their epic march towards the next important port of call: the Al Banush Sports Club, where the Flame was greeted by hundreds of school children.

But before reaching the Sports Club, HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay Ambassador, made his first appearance of the day. He joined a Torchbearer on the Mesaieed Road, running alongside him for a while. Then, out of the blue, out of the blue sky, 10 or 12 parachutists landed in the open desert. HE Sheikh Joaan ran towards them in welcome after their soft landing. He then rejoined the Torchbearer.

HE Sheikh Joaan’s second appearance came a little while later, at the Al Banush Sports Club. There, wearing a blue Torch Relay t-shirt and white track suit trousers, he assisted the Torchbearer, Rajesh Mulky Kamath, in lighting the Cauldron.

After an hour’s break at Al Banush Sports Club, the Flame left and, with the weather still good, headed for the industrial port town of Mesaieed, which has the country’s second largest population and many petrochemical and steel plants.

The people of Mesaieed gave the Torchbearers one of the most enthusiastic receptions seen so far on the Relay route. Hundreds of construction workers, all wearing their overalls, and hundreds of children waving Qatari flags were out on the streets, shouting encouragement to the Torchbearers. Scores of quad bikes also joined in, driving alongside the Relay.

Halfway between Mesaieed and Al-Wakra, HE Sheikh Joaan made yet another appearance, his third of the day. This time he sat on top of a Jeep with his youngest brother, Sheikh Al Qa'qa Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, aged six years, absorbing the vitality of the happy atmosphere.

Mesaieed, having entered the true spirit of the ‘Games of your Life’, was having fun and making the 15th Asian Games their Games – if only for a few hours.

The final 18km from Mesaieed to Al-Wakra, the destination for the day, also brought out the crowds. Hundreds of people joined the fun, hooting the horns on their vehicles, or standing on top of them draped in huge Qatari flags.

On the beachfront at Al Seef Park in Al-Wakra, on a dry clear night, thousands of people were gathered by the Celebration Stage, waiting for the last Torchbearer to arrive. The vociferous crowd was entertained by traditional music and dancing, including a sword dance performed by an all-male troupe.

The last Torchbearer was Saeed Al Hajri, a former Qatari rally driver, who has competed in the annual Paris-Dakar offroad race, open to both professional and amateur drivers. He said, “It is a beautiful feeling to be the last Torchbearer today on the Al-Wakra leg. “ He also added that he was “very happy to see so many people, so many happy faces” supporting him and the Torch Relay as a whole.

HE Sheikh Joaan then made his fourth and final appearance of the day and, together with Mr Al Hajri, lit the Cauldron. Cue the post-relay celebrations, including a firework display.

Tomorrow, the Torch Relay takes in the Halul Island to Al-Khor leg, a journey of 88km with 168 Torchbearers on duty; the Ralay proper begins at 09:00 at Ras Laffan.

Only three days to go now before the big sporting extravaganza opens in Doha.

Goddamn it! I have one of my midterm exams on Saturday! I am supposed to be studying on Friday! :(:(:(
I really need to watch the opening ceremony!... Need to watch it badly! :(

after after tomorrow is the ceremony !!

Al Khor, Qatar - Tue 28 Nov
The Flame goes to the industrial heartland
The improved weather conditions seen during yesterday’s Inland Sea to Al-Wakra leg of the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay on Qatari territory continued today, 28 November – the 52nd day of this epic journey, which, when it ends at the Opening Ceremony at the Khalifa Stadium on Friday, will have travelled an amazing 55,000km across 15 countries and regions since 10 October.

Today’s leg of the Torch Relay took in Ras Laffan where the important Industrial City is located in the east of the country. However, before the Flame reached the industrial heartland of Qatar, it began the day’s journey at Halul Island at 06:00.

On Halul Island, off the east coast of Qatar, workers from Qatar Petroleum (QP) turned up to watch and cheer as three Torchbearers carried the Flame across the island. QP uses the island as a storage and distribution facility.

Torchbearer No 1, Mubarak Al Awaidi Hajri, Operations Manager of Qatar Petroleum Offshore, handed the Flame to colleague Ahmad Amer Al-Hemaidi, Manager of the of the Halul Terminal and Exports, (QP), who then handed the Flame to the third Islander, Ahmed Al-Aji, a QP production manager. After that, the Flame was transferred to its Safety Lantern for its 20-minute helicopter ride to Ras Laffan.

Ras Laffan, the Industrial City, is 80km from Doha. It covers 106 sq km and includes a huge port, plus several industrial facilities, mostly involved with the oil and gas industry on which Qatar’s strong and growing economy is so reliant.

Indeed, Ras Laffan Port, which became operational in 1996 and cost more than $1bn to build, is one of the largest liquefied natural gas (LNG) export facilities in the world. Based on this sprawling area are, among others, Oryx GTL, Qatar Petroleum, Qatar Gas and Q Power, The Torch Flame visited all four today.

Soon after 09:00, outside the Oryx Building, Khalid Ahmed Al-Hail, Deputy General Manger of Oryx GTL, surrounded by staff members, carried the Flame amid cheers from his workforce wearing blue and yellow overalls. Mr Al-Hail, who has held his present role in the company since January 2003, handed the Flame to Chris Turner, General Manager of Oryx GTL.

With the port of Ras Laffan acting as a backdrop, Mr Turner carried the Flame through an avenue of Qatari flags. Oryx GTL, which opened at Ras Laffan in June of this year at a cost of $915m, produces more than 34,000 barrels of gas-to-liquids every day.

Outside Qatar Petroleum’s (QP’s) building, Misnad Abdula Al Misnad, a Director of Ras Laffan Industrial City since 2005 – he is the Vice Chairman of the Qatar Customs and Port General Authority – appeared with the Flame. He received a warm welcome from hundreds of workers, all wearing orange-yellow-blue overalls and waving Qatari flags. He then passed the Flame to Callum Wood.

Still at the Ras Laffan compound, and on to Qatar Power, known as Q Power, the electricity and water supply company. A large gathering of workers wearing blue helmets and brandishing Qatari flags, watched as the Flame passed the giant chimney stacks.

The next stop on the agenda was the administrative building of Qatar Gas (QG). In a salute to the spirit of the Asian Games and the Flame itself, QG had erected a huge – 15m x 20m – banner opposite its headquarters.

Outside QB’s building, a large crowd of workers gathered, many taking the opportunity to pose for photographs with the three Torchbearers. And as the Flame carried on through QB’s lush gardens, it stood out against the huge Qatari flag the company had put up outside.

From Qatar Gas to Ras Gas, one of the world’s largest suppliers of liquefied natural gas (LNG), which has labelled the Torch Relay as ‘the road to glory’. Its employees certainly gave the Flame a glorious welcome: they cheered, clapped and waved as Torchbearers Saeed Al Hassan and Mohammed Al-Sada went past, Flame held aloft.

As the Flame finally departed the Ras Laffan Industrial area, several hundred workers bade it farewell as it continued southwards towards Doha and the Opening Ceremony of the Games on Friday evening.

Once outside the industrial area, the Flame moved through the streets of the local community, where its presence continued to attract much interest, eventually making its way though partial desert areas.

As the Flame approached the Al Khor Community Centre, locals waved flags from their cars and hooted their horns. An eventual right turn brought the Torchbearer close to the community centre’s gate. There, he was greeted with much enthusiasm and noise, including yet more cars flying Qatari flags on their aerials.

Once inside the community centre, where the families of the Ras Laffan workforce live, more than 5,000 people greeted the Torchbearer.

It is here that HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay Ambassador, made his first appearance of the day. At the wheel of a sport utility vehicle, he joined the Flame as it exited the Al Khor Community Centre to hearty cheers from the huge crowd.

The Flame continued on its merry way along the palm tree-lined streets under the watchful eye of HE Sheikh Joaan. He passed groups of children, out enjoying the spirit of the Asian Games, holding Doha Torch Relay flags and drawings as the Flame made its way down the main street past a school and a hospital.

Still more children in blue school uniforms held hand-made miniature orange and red Torches as they waved Qatari flags and cheered.

HE Sheikh Joaan, wearing a white and blue Doha Asian Games t-shirt, walked alongside the Torchbearer towards the lunch break looming ahead at the poolside of the Al Khor Community Compound.

There, HE Sheikh Joaan also posed for photographs with the Torchbearer, signed a torch, chatted to some of the residents and posed for more photographs.

Soon, it was time for lunch, which saw the Torch Relay crew and guests relax and enjoy the warm hospitality of the locals, poolside.
Straight after lunch, HE Sheikh Joaan, back in the driving seat of his 4x4, followed the Torch Relay and its convoy of attendant personnel out of the Al Khor Community Compound. Cue more cheers as workers in blue uniforms waved eight-foot palm tree fronds as the Flame continued on its way in ideal weather conditions.

HE Sheikh Joaan indulged in another autograph-signing session, this time putting his signature on Qatari flags, from his vehicle. More children, many of them wearing Orry the oryx, mascot of the Asian Games, baseball caps cheered and waved as he continued on his way.

Further along the route, more children, dressed in traditional Arab clothes, sang and danced as they held up photographs of the Emir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani, and small replicas of the Torch. HE Sheikh Joaan was then showered with flower petals as he joined yet another Torchbearer to the sound of children singing – with many more running alongside him.

At about 14:30, the Torch Relay reached the beautiful village of Al Thakhira, situated close to the Arabian Gulf. Here, HE Sheikh Joaan posed for more photographs with children, signed still more t-shirts and lapped up the enthusiasm of the people. A huge crowd then gathered around HE Sheikh Joaan as he saw the Flame head off for a short sea voyage on a rowing boat, as the first clouds of the day began to gather overhead.

Back on dry land, the Flame continued on its way, leaving Al Thakhira amid much fanfare; cars lined up on the dusty route hooted their horns.

Another Torch exchange – one of nearly 170 on today’s leg of the Relay – took place under the ever watchful eye of HE Sheikh Joaan as the Relay convoy approached a small village, whose tiny populace came out to witness, with some amazement, the fun and carnivalesque atmosphere that the Asian Games Torch Relay provides. Even a falcon was on hand to witness the unusual – but pleasant – goings-on.

Enormous flags flew or were draped on many cars lining the highway as thousands of small streamers, thrown into the air, spun and danced in the afternoon breeze as HE Sheikh Joaan drove on. Orry dolls adorned the bonnets of cars as they followed the Relay procession. On and on the Flame continued. One of the day’s Torchbearers was Lamia Tarek, a famous actress from Kuwait.

The next stop was Al Khor Sports Club, where the Torch Relay did halt for a short break in proceedings. There, HE Sheikh Joaan greeted and kissed children as he took in the happy atmosphere and the cheers of the locals who rained down streamers on him. A picture of him was in evidence, held high and sporting pink and green balloons.

HE Sheikh Joaan then chatted with local dignitaries in the sports club and greeted many others before rejoining the Torch Relay convoy on the way to the Corniche at Al Khor to light the Cauldron at 19:00.

Once there, HE Sheikh Joaan took centre stage – the Celebration Stage– at one end of the Corniche, waiting for the arrival of the last Torchbearer. This was Mubarak Al Muhannadi, a director of the Qatar National Olympic Committee. While waiting for his arrival, HE Sheikh Joaan was entertained by children who danced and sang traditional songs.

When Mr Al Muhannadi arrived with the Flame, he went through the middle of a huge crowd, climbed on to the Celebration Stage and joined the waiting HE Sheikh Joaan. After a mutual greeting, Mr Muhannadi proceeded to light the Cauldron to loud cheers from the crowd of thousands. With the Cauldron alight, about 60 children got on the stage, joining HE Sheikh Joaan and Mr Muhannadi – and posed for a group photograph. The crowd cheered and roared their approval; they had enjoyed their outing.

Tomorrow, the Torch route takes to northern Doha, covering a 115km route beginning at Barzan Castle at 05:48 and ending at Corniche Park.
Doha, 15km to the south, awaits the Torch.

yesterdays video al kore http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/torchrelay/thejourney/torchphotos.aspx?id=107

the video pf yesterday http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/torchrelay/thejourney/torchvideos.aspx?id=107

suzan did it reach qatar foundation yet !!

becase i am going right about now see ya i am going to carry the flame !!! bye

i ran with the flame i ran with the flame today it was a life time experiance it was fun my mom even cryed my dad got some pics of me it was awsome !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post the pics! Now!!

ok ok one sec pic of wat ?

i only have me with the torch off not on the road and relay

heres a pic of me with he torch i will post the others tomorrow i have an exam good night http://img56.imageshack.us/img56/1251/dsc00102fs5.jpg

lol! Nice pic there... But! But! The flame is not on! :D

Guys...
Guess who attended the opening ceremony rehersal last night?? :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer: :cheer:

Awesome! How was it?
Tell us Suzan... plz plz plz!!

qatar son I have the video for u carrying the torch :D I`lll post it for u soon.

Save target as. pls

Right click here (http://www.3nabifantasy.com/downloads/20061130-022036_chunk_1.avi)

Awesome! How was it?
Tell us Suzan... plz plz plz!!

The ceremony was:
amazing, magnificent, breath-taking, a dream, astonishing, astounding, fabulous, fantastic, fantastical, incredible, marvelous, miraculous, phenomenal, prodigious, stupendous, unbelievable, wonderful, wondrous.

GOD!!! a life-time experience :)

I feel I shouldnt talk about it.. so please all, I am sorry! ;)

Pics of the Torch Relay at Qatar FOundation - November 29, 2006
At the Ceremonial Court~!!!

http://img241.imageshack.us/img241/1315/pb210090xw9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img139.imageshack.us/img139/9206/pb210095vn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img86.imageshack.us/img86/9206/pb210096az0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/4427/pb210097kd7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img177.imageshack.us/img177/2/pb210099ss1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/6995/pb210100rl5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/9909/pb210101jg0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/1302/pb210103og5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img179.imageshack.us/img179/8664/pb210106ct7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7034/pb210107xp8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img215.imageshack.us/img215/6636/pb210109yl6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3572/pb210110dv0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/7238/pb210111eg5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img138.imageshack.us/img138/8774/pb210112gv8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/2622/pb210113er1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/3918/pb210114mt2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Sheikh Joan is so cute!! and smiles all the time!
Sheikha Moza is gorgeous!!! way more beautiful than in pics!!!
I loved seeing them :)

there was rehersals yesterday ? cool

lol! Nice pic there... But! But! The flame is not on! :D
well becase i was getting ready any way my parents couldent stop looking at threr son !!!!

I wanna be in Qatar! I wanna be in Qatar!!! :cry: :cry: :cry: :cry:
Why do I always miss out on all the fun! I am sooo jealous! >(

Sheikh Joan is so cute!! and smiles all the time!

Yeah this is what I have noticed too, I like him alot! He seems to be really friendly with everyone, and down to earth. But I think this goes for most of the family :)

there was rehersals yesterday ? cool

Yes!! and I was there!!! :nocrook:

where can i watch the games outside asia?

by internet?

ask halawala or suzan i think eurosport

yesterdys pics http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/torchrelay/thejourney/torchphotos.aspx?id=108

The ceremony was:
amazing, magnificent, breath-taking, a dream, astonishing, astounding, fabulous, fantastic, fantastical, incredible, marvelous, miraculous, phenomenal, prodigious, stupendous, unbelievable, wonderful, wondrous.

GOD!!! a life-time experience :)

I feel I shouldnt talk about it.. so please all, I am sorry! ;)
Exactly what I wanted to hear... I just wanted to know what you thought about it not what happened exactly. I'll watch it on TV tomorrow inshallah :devil:

BTW, just curious... But what was Sheikh Jo3an riding when he came to the Foundation? He was riding a really fine G55 convertible when they were heading to Wakrah. It had the plates 582222 (can't remember the 2s here!) :D:D

No! He came with a White Landcruiser and left in a huge moto, dont know the model of the moto.

No! He came with a White Landcruiser and left in a huge moto, dont know the model of the moto.

:(

where can i watch the games outside asia?

by internet?

I found this channel online

http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?channel=615

I dont know how much they are going to show from the Games though, but right now they are showing some of the Torch Relay :)

lol btw about the opening i heard an incredble story oh sorry it an incredble roumer shiek hammad will come out of the ground with an elevator i think (ps some one discribed it like a devil rising from the ground lol) and you know about the eagle the thout that whene the 15000+ people come to the opening because of the sound claping and cheering if the eagle will come to the right instead he will go to the left because he will be frightend so they thoute of shiek someone to go on a horse on the tower (somway ?) and light the flame lol he will come down with a burned horse !!!

they are showing it on qatar tv1 now

or as you say mubashar LIVE

22 hrs to go says the website

wat the toot the site says 23 hrs to go how can it be it was 22 !!!

well wat do you know the main site says 22 link : www.doha-2006.com while the torch relay page says 23 lol open the torch relay thing and see the joke lol

any way 21 hrs to go

Congrats qatar son for the torch relay!!! And thanks littlelou for the tv link, i'm glued to it now!

What is the exact time of the ceremony tomorrow?

its some where near 6 any way the opening is 4 hours !!!

bad news guys its gonna rain tommorrow not any rain heavy rain 19 hrs to go !!! thanks massilia

Rain?!!!
Noooooooooooooooooooo!

You are welcome massilia.

They are showing an interview with Sheikh Joaan now. I dont understand a word, but it's kinda interesting anyway :lol:

What time is the opening ceremony going to be?

oops!

@ gulfexpress
It will be at about 6 oclock, which is 5 in Egypt :D...

Rain?!!!
Noooooooooooooooooooo!

I thought you guys loved the rain? Cos it doesnt rain very often?

Guys... You should try finding Al-Jazeera Asia 3. It broadcasts in English...

I do not have any arabic channels, neither the english Al Jazeera or the arabic ones, or any of the other channels you are mentioning, not eurosport either, because I usually got better things to do than watching tv :cheers:
I need to be satisfied with what I can find online :ohno:

I thought you guys loved the rain? Cos it doesnt rain very often?
Personally, I hate rain...
But what I meant is that rain could ruin the day for many people. Many people might not be able to get to the stadium if the rain was that heavy. Accidents will happening ruining the the day for many people...etc

I dunno, but rain will definitely have a negative effect on the day...

I found this channel online

http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?channel=615

I dont know how much they are going to show from the Games though, but right now they are showing some of the Torch Relay :)

Hey, does this channel will transmit the opening ceremony?. That would be great, i dont have any channel that will transmit the opening.

By the way, too bad it's gonna rain tomorrow, hope it doesn't damage the show.

Hey, does this channel will transmit the opening ceremony?. That would be great, i dont have any channel that will transmit the opening.

By the way, too bad it's gonna rain tomorrow, hope it doesn't damage the show.

Yes, it'll broadcast it... 100% sure.

Thats great :) , i will keep an eye to it and try to record it. However, i hope someone on the net put it for download on best quality.

http://www.doha-2006.com/upload_iis/Images/TorchRelayPhotos/Day_54_Qatar803.jpg

Torch realy on South Doha, just a little to reach Khalifa Stadium:banana:

A last thing, on the moment i posting right now the time is 07:42 PM (Caracas-La Paz Timezone) . In which time the ceremony begins?

Here, the official program of the Opening Ceremony

http://www.dagbs.tv/download/OCrunupanddownMWIL301106.pdf

Very, very promising

Congratulations for the marvelous banner

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/images/headers/1.jpg

:applause:

great banner.

Really looking forward to the games. Go Qatar!

as for the medals, Go India!!

It's raining at the moment :(
Hope it stops sooooooon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I found this channel online

http://www.goalzz.com/main.aspx?channel=615

I dont know how much they are going to show from the Games though, but right now they are showing some of the Torch Relay :)

have you found other online channels that will show the opening ceremony with english commentaries? that one you mentioned above is enough... but i dont understand a thing with what they're saying, it would be better to hear and understand commentaries/explanations...

A last thing, on the moment i posting right now the time is 07:42 PM (Caracas-La Paz Timezone) . In which time the ceremony begins?
Well, Doha's time is +03:00 GMT. And the ceremony should start at about 6 or 7 Doha time. But from the schedule I saw on TV, some minor stuff will begin at 3 Doha time...
Anyways, now... you do the math! :D

Well, Doha's time is +03:00 GMT. And the ceremony should start at about 6 or 7 Doha time. But from the schedule I saw on TV, some minor stuff will begin at 3 Doha time...
Anyways, now... you do the math! :D

tooooooot i hate math

congradgulations great banner

5 hours to go !!!!!!!!!!!!!

Doha South, Qatar - Thu 30 Nov
On the home straight…
Nearly there! Today, 30 November, was the sixth and final full day of the march of the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay through Qatar before tomorrow’s long-awaited Opening Ceremony at the Khalifa Stadium.

The Doha 2006 Flame today spent nearly 11 hours on the streets of Doha South; the circuitous journey of 69km included the picturesque Old Souk Waqif and Fishermen’s Harbour, and involved 225 Torchbearers.

Doha Club, an exclusive private club near the stunning Corniche, was the departure point of the Flame at 07:45 in hazy but warm conditions. The first Torchbearer of the day, Ahmed Al-Thani, proceeded down Sharq Street and towards the beginning of the C-Ring Road; there, Torchbearer No 2 took over.

Nearly two hours and 14km later, the Flame reached the Lulu Hypermarket for a short mid-morning break. A large crowd of people, including children from the Al Mansoora School, cheered the Torch, held aloft by 15 year-old Dana Ahmed Al Khlaifi, a student at the Al Rasallah High School. They waved Qatari flags and miniature Asian Games Torches.

This kind of happy and vigorous scene prevailed throughout the morning as the Torch Relay procession continued on its way through the city. At the busy Ramada Junction, staff at the Ramada Hotel, took time off from their duties to cheer the Flame as it continued on its way.

On and on the Flame went, progressing at various speeds, depending on the age and physical condition of those carrying it through the city’s main C and D ring roads. Qatar has invested serious amounts of money in its road-building programme in recent years. And it shows in these wide boulevards.

Just after mid-day the Flame reached the Al-Arabi Sports Club, off Al-Muntazah Street in southern Doha. The home to successful football and basketball teams, Al-Arabi Stadium has been extensively renovated with the Asian Games in mind; indeed, rugby sevens matches will be played there, while its indoor hall is hosting table tennis.

Al-Arabi Sports Club today also provided a resting place for the Flame and its hardworking convoy team as they stopped for a well-deserved lunch break.

It was here that the sporty HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the 15th Asian Games Torch Relay Ambassador, made his first appearance of the day. He was warmly greeted by Sheikh Faisal Bin Mubarek Al-Thani, President of Al-Arabi Sports Club, and by a large group of students from the Al Khaleej Al Arabi Independent Boys School.

HE Sheikh Joaan seemed pleased to meet everybody and made it a point of talking to most of the students, signing autographs for many. He then welcomed the day’s 113rd Torchbearer, Zainulabideen Kuvullathil, an employee of Pocari Sweat, one of the sponsors of the 15th Asian Games.

Lunch break over, it was back on the road with the Flame, this time hitting the B-Ring Road, en route to Souq Waqif, one of the gems of Doha.

Deceptively much larger than it looks, Souq Waqif has many tiny shops outside. Venture inside and it is, in the best tradition of genuine souks in the Middle East and North Africa, a warren of turns and alleyways, alive with the hustle and bustle of shoppers. One’s nostrils catch the wonderful smells of the exotic spices and herbs for which this recently-rebuilt souq is rightly famous.

Now a Torchbearer wearing traditional Arab dress and on horseback, rode through part of the souk’s narrow alleyways, going past a shop selling falcons on the way.

On to Fishermen’s Harbour, a few hundred metres away, where it was time for the Asian Games Flame to go on a fast ride across the Corniche waters on a Class 1 powerboat.

Accompanied by HE Sheikh Joaan on a speedboat and a flotilla of about 30 Jetskis, all performing various tricks as they sped by, the Flame crossed to Palm Tree Island in the middle of the Corniche. After circling the tiny sandy island – a sand bar, in effect – the Flame was transferred to a Jetski for its return journey to terra firma, with the accompanying Jetskis lined up behind it this time, rather than making waves! Orry, the Asian Games mascot, watched intently from the pier as the setting sun extended a golden hue over the Corniche.

HE Sheikh Joaan’s next appearance was on the B-Ring Road, when he helped to push the wheelchair of Ali Aljahab, carrying the Flame, for about 300m.

Among the crop of VIPs doing their bit for the 15th Asian Games was none other than Nawal El Moutawakel of Morocco, the former top female hurdler, one of the final Torchbearers. Winner of the inaugural women’s 400m hurdles in the1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games and who, in achieving this milestone, became the first Muslin and African female Olympic champion, Nawal El Moutawakel ran with the Flame for about 500m to loud cheers and encouragement from the huge crowds now out on the streets and approaches to the Celebration Stage set up at the Heritage Village.

Miss El Moutawakel, now a member of the International Olympic Committee, handed the Flame to Abdulla Al-Eida, a businessman and President of the Al Saliya Club. He in turn passed the Flame to HE Sheikh Joaan at the entrance to the Heritage Village, who ran on to the Celebration Stage where his older brother, the Heir Apparent of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, was waiting.

HE Sheikh Joaan handed the Flame to the smiling Heir Apparent, who held it aloft, shaking hands with guests and other bystanders as he headed towards the Cauldron, which he duly lit. The hundreds of people watching the unfolding of these events clapped, shouted and waved Qatari flags. Orry danced on stage and the catchy 15th Asian Games theme song, ‘Side by Side’, filled the night air – along with the now customary hooting of car horns on the roads nearby.

Cue in the celebrations on the stage…
And so, tomorrow, the BIG day, the Flame covers its last few kilometers – 27 in all – in Doha, ending at the Al-Sadd Sports Club, Qatar’s oldest stadium, just after 11:00. In the evening, the much-travelled Flame of the 15th Asian Games will head for the grand finale at the Khalifa Stadium – the Opening Ceremony – at the end of its epic 55,00km marathon.


For Qatar and its people, the long wait is virtually over.

pic http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/torchrelay/thejourney/torchphotos.aspx?id=109

Few hours to go

One day, 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds, however you look at it the sands in the hourglass are running out as we count down the last hours before the start of the 15th Asian Games.

The 15th Asian Games Torch Relay begins its last full day before the Doha 2006 Flame and the symbolic torch that carries it arrive at Khalifa Stadium, there to perform the vital task of igniting the Cauldron, the action that declares these Games open.

Final rehearsals for the spectacular Opening Ceremony have been carried out.

Seven thousand dancers, singers, acrobats and aerialists are word, note and inch-perfect in their roles.

Ten thousand and more athletes and officials have brushed up their team uniforms, practiced their marching and flag carrying roles, and are raring to go.

Sixteen thousand volunteers are waiting to fulfil the tasks allotted to them.

But first they, like hundreds of thousands, millions, billions of others, wait for the first bars of music that will announce the Opening Ceremony.

All over Doha, the Look of the Games has taken hold. Thousands of flags, what seems like scores of kilometres of banners at roadsides and roundabouts, huge hoardings at strategic junctions, buses bedecked with Asian Games logos scurrying everywhere carrying athletes on training missions; everywhere you turn you see the full impact of the Games.

On the Corniche, that usually peaceful promenade by the water, runners train and many of Doha’s residents have come out in shorts and trainers to be a part of the scene. Brave cycle road racers dice with the traffic in bright Lycra and the bay has been dotted with white sails as the racers get used to the conditions.

For the athletes it is a time for nerves, waiting for the chance, that one chance, to do your very best for your country, for yourself, for the billions who will follow these Games on TV and on the Internet through this website, and in person at the 16 immaculate venues that will host the 39 sports.

For the organisers, Doha Asian Games Organising Committee, for the venue managers and for the 16,000 volunteers, it is a time of waiting too; waiting for years of planning to come to fruition, waiting for an incredible vision to take its form as the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

That moment is just a few hours away.

One day, 24 hours, 1,440 minutes, 86,400 seconds, tick, tock, tick, tock, tick, tick, tick. . .

3 more hrs

Let the Games of your Life begin

Tonight is the big night, the Opening Ceremony of the 15th Asian Games, Doha 2006 at Khalifa Stadium.

Not only will the Ceremony officially signal the start of the greatest Asian Games ever, it will be the most spectacular opening of any Games.

Doha Asian Games Organising Committee has pulled out all the stops to ensure that everybody who sees the Ceremony will have a memory for life, one to tell your grandchildren, “I was there.”

With 50,000 people to get into Khalifa Stadium, arrange your arrival to ensure that you have plenty of time to get to your allocated seat. Everyone has to be in their places by 18:00 when the gates to the Stadium are closed, so make sure that you get there in plenty of time.

Arrival, parking

The gates of the Stadium open at 15:00 to allow a leisurely arrival. Don’t leave it until the last minute, come early.

There is plenty of free parking outside the stadium with free busses to take you to the gates from the furthest car parks. Allow time to get from your vehicle to the bus – there will be a huge number of cars arriving at the stadium. Traffic police will be on hand to direct the arriving cars, but watch out for the many roads that are closed off to make pedestrian access easier. A detailed map is here.

There are some things that you are not allowed to bring into the Opening Ceremony, and to save time at the security checks, make sure that you comply with these requirements – a full list is here, but simple prohibitions are: Only one bag per spectator, no animals except guide dogs, no banners or flags bigger than 1.5m x 1.5m, no food or beverages except for children or for medical reasons, no pushchairs in seating areas.

You can – and please do – bring cameras, movie cameras and mobile phones with cameras to record the events of the evening as they unfold. Umbrellas are also pernmitted.

Early arrivals will enjoy special entertainment that will begin at 16:00 and run through to 18:00 when everyone will have to be seated.

At 19:00 the big night begins.

Seven thousand performers will be there to bring you a ceremony that marries Qatari culture with the cultures of Asia and the peoples who are represented at the Games. Sumptuous costumes are promised together with fantastic displays of pyrotechnics.

The more than 10,000 athletes and officials who have come to Qatar for the Games will parade into the arena, proudly carrying their national flags, filling the centre of the stadium and then waiting with everyone for the symbolic start of the contest, the lighting of the Games cauldron.

The Doha 2006 Flame has been carried on the longest ever Torch Relay for any Asian Games, through 15 countries and regions and for over 50,000km. In the past five days the Flame has been carried the length and breadth of Qatar and now it will arrive at Khalifa stadium for the opening.

Seven very special athletes will carry the Flame to the Games, six of them taking part themselves, the seventh a special invited guest.

The Doha 2006 Torch will be brought to the Cauldron and the magic moment when the tiny flame of the torch ignites the massive Cauldron that will burn throughout every day of the Games will be the cause for the biggest cheer of the evening. Let the Games begin.

Leaving the stadium

While arriving at Khalifa Stadium can be phased to make the most of the time and space available, everyone will want to leave shortly after the final firework has faded into the night sky, the echoes of the last cheer die away across Doha.

If you are in the stadium, please leave with patience and forbearance, stay a while to savour the last moments and let the crowd disperse. When you do reach your car, drive with safety and sense, and follow the instructions of the Traffic Police.

Whatever you do, enjoy every moment and file the memories away to recount to family and friends in the years to come. This will be The Games of your Life.

Something to ASPIRE to

‘ASPIRE Today, Inspire Tomorrow’. That is the eye catching-slogan being used by the world’s biggest sports academy and multi-sport indoor arena based in Doha.

Officially opened in November 2005, the ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence, is the most tangible sign of the long term sporting legacy being built in Qatar.

ASPIRE, situated adjacent to the Khalifa Stadium at Sport City where the Opening Ceremony for the 15th Asian Games will be held on 1 December, has a dual aim.

“We are trying to turn talent into champions and generate a stronger sports culture in Qatar,” says Dr Thomas Flock, ASPIRE’s Director General, a former German sprinter who developed the Olympic Center in Munich which is one of the world’s leading elite sporting institutions.

The hope is to develop ASPIRE students into top sportsmen who will be role models others will seek to follow, therefore achieving the wider aim of stimulating participation in sport throughout Qatar.

Officially opened in November 2005, the academy is billed as ‘a place for those who dare to dream.’ Quite simply, there is nowhere as grand as the Qatari academy anywhere in world sport.

The 290,000sqm building, designed by French architect Roger Taillibert, is the largest indoor multi-sports dome in the world and boasts an indoor athletics stadium, a 5,000-seater football stadium, Olympic-sized swimming and diving pools and seven multi-purpose sports halls.

Twelve to 16 year-old students, who specialise in a multitude of sports, live within the dome and are coached and educated on site where they receive the best possible sports coaching and medical back up.

Facilities-wise, they can use ASPIRE’s indoor halls and outdoor pitches and even have their own gymnasium which has specifically-designed equipment for youths. Depending on competition schedules or time spent training or playing for their clubs, students train twice a day, usually in the morning and after school.


Boasting the best facilities: ASPIRE is unique on the world stage

Unique

“To get support in health, biomechanics, physiology, psychology, physiotherapy and nutrition all under one roof is unique,” says Dr Flock. “We have visited all continents to bring the best of everywhere to ASPIRE.”

Dr Flock has recruited staff from more than 40 countries including former world squash champion Geoff Hunt, who moved from the highly-regarded Australian Institute of Sport (AIS) and English Premier League academy director Michael Browne, who is ASPIRE’s head football coach. Browne’s team includes coaches who have worked at national or good club level in England, Spain, Brazil, Holland and Iraq.

Getting into the ASPIRE academy isn’t easy. The recruitment process is one of the most thorough anywhere in the world. “We have screened virtually every child in Qatar to make sure we don’t miss any talent,” says Dr Flock.

Some 175 boys enrolled for the 2006-2007 academic year and the plan is to expand to 1,200 within 10 years. Girls will be admitted to the academy by 2008.

ASPIRE also gives opportunities to a small percentage of recruits from overseas countries, both to give children from underprivileged backgrounds a chance to develop their sports prowess and to help raise the quality of the academy.

“We bring players in from Africa and South America because we need them to raise the standard of our local players so they become better,” says football coach Browne. “It lifts the level of our training and performances in matches.”

ASPIRE on the world stage
ASPIRE has already developed a worldwide reputation. Its ambassadors include football legends Pele and Maradona, former athletes Ed Moses, Said Aouita and Hicham El Guerrouj, Olympic gymnast Nadia Comaneci and record Olympic swimmer, Mark Spitz.

The academy has also forged links with major international sports organisations, and sponsors football’s FIFPro Young Players’ Players of the Year Award, which was won by Barcelona’s Argentine forward Lionel Messi in November 2006.

As a venue during the 15th Asian Games it will host gymnastics, badminton, wushu, wrestling, kabaddi and boxing. Although ASPIRE will be an essential part of the Games it has been built with a longer purpose in mind.

“ASPIRE is unique because it is a functional building,” says Dr Flock. “Many other countries have staged major sports events and then struggled to find a usage for their buildings. Here, we have ongoing use. It is all part of the legacy we are creating here in Qatar.”

Although it is relatively early stages, ASPIRE’s students have already made their mark in sports tournaments around the world. Its athletes have won medals in competitions at international level and its footballers have also beaten teams from top European club academies.

Not that Thomas Flock believes ASPIRE should be judged on short term results. “This is a long term project,” he warns. “We may see some results in seven or eight years but not in the first two or three years.”


Stimulating sport in Qatar

If they can't be champions in sport, they can be champions in life
ASPIRE is more than an elite sports academy for the gifted few. It also has a community outreach programme aimed at nurturing active participation and interest in sport in Qatar.

“We are trying to educate the community into the values and benefits of sport in being fitter and healthier and preventing and overcoming disease,” said Dr Flock.

It has designed fitness programmes for toddlers, pre-school children and their mothers. In 2005 ASPIRE introduced ‘First Steps in Fitness’ exercise classes, which have proved to be popular attracting up to 50 children per class.

Gisela Hackfort, Community Programme Coordinator for ASPIRE said: “This is the first programme in the Middle East to promote a healthier lifestyle among young children. The benefits of starting exercise programmes at a young age are significant. Fit, healthy children have a better quality of life.”

ASPIRE also runs Talent Centres across Qatar for children from the age of 6 upwards. “The aim is to get as many boys playing football as possible,’ says Michael Browne.

“We are asking 10 to 11 year-olds to come here part-time to see if they are good enough and to work with them so they are ready to come here at age of 12. If we can get kids playing on regular basis from the age of six, then they will be better at the age of 12.”

Dr Flock believes ASPIRE’s students who fail to make it as top sportsmen can still benefit from the education they receive.

“Not everyone can become a champion. We take a holistic approach. We believe if they can’t be champions in sport, they can be champions in life. As ASPIRE athletes they will be special and unique. They may go on to be doctors or lawyers outside sport but to be valuable citizens is the main point.”

“ASPIRE is about much more than developing a few athletes. It is about changing attitudes and developing an elite sports culture in the Middle East.”

2hrs to go

its funny, i know our timezone in the Philippines/HK Time is advanced than Qatar's time, the website is showing: -2 hours left.... hehehe, negative time... they should've devised a way to tie it up the countdown with GMT/UTC

no its after 2 hrs 2 more hours and qatar will rock the world did you know that acctully qatar wants to do somthings that the other olympics and asian games will get shocked becase they wont know wat to put in there opening cerymony :) ;)

what i mean is that its already 9pm here in the philippines thats why the website is showing negative two (-2) hours left to the opening of the asiad... the countdown in the website is tied up with the viewer's PC/System time, not tied up with GMT/UTC

lol

they should program it to gmt/utc

live shots right now, showing rain in qatar.... at the sports city

1 hour left this is getting cooooooooooooooool
:dj: :dj: :banana: :cucumber: :applause: :rock: :banana2: :righton: :cheer: :nocrook: :carrot: :pepper: :dance2:

can i watch it online? opening ceremony?!??!?!

online channel...

mms://216.93.170.69/live

but its in arabic, in my case i cant understand a thing, but that would be enough for me.... rather than watching it at TV with the national TV station... their broadcasting sucks.

one sec

hmmm, funny... the website developer for the asiad must've seen my posts regarding the negative countdown.... they just updated the site and had the countdown tied up with GMT/UTC... before it was tied up with the PC system time, so from negative three (-3) hours left... it became 1 hour left. :)

ow did not see your post ok then keep watching people

whos that kid, one of the panelists being interviewed right now in the studio? speaks so fast and speaks a lot.... some star in qatar? (whoa, that rhymed... star, qatar... hehehehehehe)

that link is not clear at all

any other links to watch the opening ceremony?

that link is not clear at all

uhhmm, hehehe, its the only one i have for now... can you give other online channels with higher streaming resolution?? i mean free channels ok.... hehehehe:)

i dont know but i have aljazzera on tv and the stadiume is paked with people !!!

awww.... we dont have al jazeera here with our cable service provider... i checked out CCTV, but it was CCTV 4, not CCTV 5 which will also cover the games.... haayyy... i'll just settle for the link then...

guys...after going through the venues...im suprised, amazed and extremely impressed, really beyond anything i expected..world class...top notch..the size of the city along with its international appeal may be a challenge but a 2016/2020 olympic bid would be a good thing.

pics live http://img198.imageshack.us/img198/7913/dsc00056cl9.jpg

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/2034/dsc00057xa2.jpg

they're showing the inside right now.... what are those two sun-like disks? are those plasma screens??

according to the program, orry's gonna enter the stadium in about 28 minutes?... wahhh, why aren't they showing the whole pre show entertainment???

any other links to watch online?

finally the whole interview/studio show has ended... now they're showing the carpet formation... hmmm, @Mo.... i dunno if there are other links.... i really do hope there are other ones with higher resolution....

most of the forumers here probably are in the stadium... watching.

I have tried to find a link for the last 2 weeks but all I could find is the one I posted :ohno: but it's better than nothing...

yup, its better than nothing... our goverment channel is the only one authorized in the philippines... and guess what they're showing right now... the history of asiad... while the link you gave is showing pre-show entertainment eight now....

The connection is so fucking bad, stops every 10 sec :bash:

uhmmm, not in my case... probably its with your internet service provider...

I usually dont have any problems, and didnt have problems all the other days, but today it's just sooo bad, so dont know what's wrong... :ohno:
The sound is there, but the picture is freezing, it's so annoying.

you need about more than 384 kbps connection.... the whole streaming media is 141 kbps...

Ok I give up, no opening ceremony for me :cry:

dont worry, you still have about 20 minutes left, hehe

you need about more than 384 kbps connection.... the whole streaming media is 141 kbps...

I should have what's required. As I said I have watched this channel before online, without any problems at all, just today (of course!) it's not working. I also use to watch live streams in much better quality than this, also no problems...

dont worry, you still have about 20 minutes left, hehe

lool thanks that's a comfort :lol::lol:
At least I can hear it hehe

im watching the event live on al jazeera tv , and the stadium look completely out of this world :bow:

http://img403.imageshack.us/img403/158/dsc000121bh8.jpg

good for you. my decoder just messed up. i have free aljazeera. is it on free aljazeera or for paying subscribers?

=======

stupid kuwait channel doesnt have it. im going thru the internet channels :|

good for you. my decoder just messed up. i have free aljazeera. is it on free aljazeera or for paying subscribers?

=======

stupid kuwait channel doesnt have it. im going thru the internet channels :|

it's on aljazeera sport which you have to subscribe for

pathetic. why cant qataris give it for free, especially to their gcc partners?

pathetic. why cant qataris give it for free, especially to their gcc partners?

BTW i just found out that you can watch it on kuwait sport channel :cheers:


enjoy

It's kinda boring till now:sleepy:
When are they planning to show the spectacular things that ppl have been talking so much about?

uhm..like WOW

Just finished watching it...
I have to say, the parts of lighting the flame and the fireworks were just way too awesome and simply breathtaking. Can't really describe it! It was really jaw-dropping!!!

Yes I agree! The end was FABULOUS!!!!!! Go Qatar :banana:

it was AMAZING !!

it was magnifcent glourious the flame was lit by the shike on a horse (just like wt i said in the biggening of the fourm) the fireworks were good and its rainin theres thunder and litning to at themoment here in qatar

mmmmmmmmmmmm,i missed lighting the flame and the fireworks :(
it was boring b4 that.

I think the whole ceremony was awesome!
But I want you all to know that since I went to the rehersal two days ago, some things where not played tonight unfortunately.

I really felt sad and nervous!
But it was an awesome indeed!
Too bad it rained :(

the opening was :shocked:

I liked how Qatari women performed wearing the veil.

What a brilliant show! I loved every minute of it, although that stunt done by the emir's son got me on the edge of my chair a bit, at one point I was like he's going to fall any sec! but bravo, what a great show, GO DOHA!

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/915/trretbp7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Now, i really now miss home...........................................:dance:

Well, i wana say hi to every one, it has been over a year since i have probably posted something.

A+

I think the whole ceremony was awesome!
But I want you all to know that since I went to the rehersal two days ago, some things where not played tonight unfortunately.

I really felt sad and nervous!
But it was an awesome indeed!
Too bad it rained :(

Why don't you tell us what wasn't played? From your words I get the impression that these "things" were good!

Wow, the opening act was awesome!! loveeeeeeeee the music, lighting n everything. :banana: :banana: congratulation Doha n Qatar! The commentators said something about the strong wind hence many "flying" probs/objects can't be used for the opening ceremony.

I absolutely love the HUGEEEEEEEEEEEE LED screen and the graphic was awesome.... really like the graphic used for athlete parade!!!!!!!!!!!!! i guess qatari like their screen hugeeeeee... just like al jazeera english hugeeeeeee newswall/newsvideo at Doha.:)

they are repeating the opening ceremony now and later. we have 4 dedicated doha asian games channel here in Malaysia. anyway, once again congrats Doha and Qatar!!!

Great! They are replaying on that link. I missed the end but I get to see it now!!!

Why don't you tell us what wasn't played? From your words I get the impression that these "things" were good!

At the begining, it was kindda boring seeing the small ship with the guy on it lonely, and as u can see, he stayed long time doing nothing. On that period, there were small ships who were supposed to enter flying!! (approx 6 ships)(like the rockets and eagle!) and men were on it. The pearls on the floor were supposed to be picked up by some men going all the way down from the ships!! it was awesome omar, I really wanted to cryyyyyy!!
Another thing that wasnt done, was a huge gold hat.. as u remember, the bride and grown were seated, and above them there was a gold hat (circled one), it was for decoration mostly, there was a huge one, just like it that was supposed to enter like the eagle did!!!!!!!!! and be placed on top of everyone, and it was supposed to be kept on the floor so that the horses when they enter, they would find the gold thing on the ground.

I think the ceremony was awesome! but wished that these things would have happened :(

Great! They are replaying on that link. I missed the end but I get to see it now!!!

what link?

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/264/1659197134ep7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img123.imageshack.us/img123/7474/1659200134yg3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

At the begining, it was kindda boring seeing the small ship with the guy on it lonely, and as u can see, he stayed long time doing nothing. On that period, there were small ships who were supposed to enter flying!! (approx 6 ships)(like the rockets and eagle!) and men were on it. The pearls on the floor were supposed to be picked up by some men going all the way down from the ships!! it was awesome omar, I really wanted to cryyyyyy!!
Another thing that wasnt done, was a huge gold hat.. as u remember, the bride and grown were seated, and above them there was a gold hat (circled one), it was for decoration mostly, there was a huge one, just like it that was supposed to enter like the eagle did!!!!!!!!! and be placed on top of everyone, and it was supposed to be kept on the floor so that the horses when they enter, they would find the gold thing on the ground.

I think the ceremony was awesome! but wished that these things would have happened :(
Since everything you mentioned was supposed to be flying, then I guess the wind was probably what got them off the ceremony...

It was amazing

Go Qatar :banana:

Ro3ah ya Qatar ;)

It was incredible. I felt I was in the imaginary world of the ceremony lol. Even without those missing elements you mentioned suzan, it was incredible. Although I watched it difficultly thru the net, it was beautiful and when turning it off, I realized at what point I was in it! Lol!
I only saw it til the beginnings of the fireworks though. The streaming began to fuck up at that time : ( I hope to catch a replay soon!
Every Qatari must feel so proud at the moment...congrats for this very special and amazing day!

any better pics ? I am dying to see how the event turned out :)

the ceremony was great!!

it was great... sad though that they had to cut some scenes and that was why the ceremony was dull at some points...

At the begining, it was kindda boring seeing the small ship with the guy on it lonely, and as u can see, he stayed long time doing nothing. On that period, there were small ships who were supposed to enter flying!! (approx 6 ships)(like the rockets and eagle!) and men were on it. The pearls on the floor were supposed to be picked up by some men going all the way down from the ships!! it was awesome omar, I really wanted to cryyyyyy!!
Another thing that wasnt done, was a huge gold hat.. as u remember, the bride and grown were seated, and above them there was a gold hat (circled one), it was for decoration mostly, there was a huge one, just like it that was supposed to enter like the eagle did!!!!!!!!! and be placed on top of everyone, and it was supposed to be kept on the floor so that the horses when they enter, they would find the gold thing on the ground.

I think the ceremony was awesome! but wished that these things would have happened :(

did you guys notice the woman that slipped on stage? i think that was in the "Tob tob ya bahr" segment... she even rolled for a while and managed to get up again...

it kinda disturbed me also with how they lit up the Aspire tower... the cauldron inside the stadium was lit with the asian games flame... but the flame on the aspire tower was lit,i think, electronically... i was kinda hoping they'd go through with the falcon carrying the flame to the tower... ending up as roasted falcon.... joking... hehehehehehehehehe

More pics!!!!!

http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/8938/311660522e28a8488cebcp5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img82.imageshack.us/img82/9840/31166052725e75f61c7beo7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img92.imageshack.us/img92/9176/31170886942fef6693foqm3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1165/3117088787148d3a334opp0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/8391/31148424628b4bfd7f3oka7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img151.imageshack.us/img151/1324/311730843d8962354c0bxl9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/4940/3117308446c45420692bfs1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img152.imageshack.us/img152/2131/31173084622b45134bbbzv6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img225.imageshack.us/img225/2039/erewrym4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/5078/erewrtretnr3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img98.imageshack.us/img98/1884/erewrtretrrrgt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

it was great threr replaying it now on qatar tv and my heart was gonna stop whene shike mohomade was on the horse he was gonna fall but he made it if he fell i was gonna fall on the ground :) ;)

here are some vids I found from the opening:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kf8_hDsQVJw&mode=related&search=

this is the one where I was like ooooooooooh shit I hope he doesnt tip over!!! :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RRDWSlk7ERE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw1IpSbHrvY&NR

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkfw0Z_1qls

I'll try to find some more

even whene it rained the towers flame did not turn off

+ the sky was lit by the power of the flame

A magnificent spectacle

In the beginning, the Opening Ceremony of the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006 focussed on the future, as Qatari youngsters were introduced into the stadium and spent an energetic and colourful 10 minutes creating a traditional Qatari sadu carpet on the stadium floor with huge pieces of billowing cloth.

They were followed by youngsters from ASPIRE, who raced around the stadium chasing Orry, the Games’ mascot. This emphasis on youth underlined Qatar’s bid to make the country the sports capital of the Middle East.

But this was merely the hors d’oeuvre to the main course.

With the countdown getting close, a sense of excitement filled the stadium before the show really swung into action with a barrage of light and sound as hundreds of men with hand-held flaming torches formed the shape of the Qatari flag in its red and white, before re-forming to spell out the words “Peace be upon you” in English and Arabic.

HH The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani was then introduced to the audience, before the Qatari flag was raised and the national anthem played.

Following a rapturous reception, performers then played out a story which reflects the growth of Asia told by a Qatari, the Seeker, who navigates his way through the world with the help of a mystical astrolabe. He faces and surmounts hazards to a stunning backdrop of video graphics and lasers featuring sea monsters and even a golden falcon. At every turn the effects, the costumes and graphics became ever-more impressive and dramatic.

A stunning display then featured the Far East as a colourful caravan of Chinese dragons, dancers and vehicles entered the stage surrounded by Chinese fire-crackers as the story of the silk robe was told. An illustrated map of the Silk Road appeared on the floor of the stadium, populated by wonderfully costumed players.

The story continues with our hero finding his way to India where he is showered with gifts before setting sail back to Arabia. Here he finds a wife and marries, with the whole of Asia invited to the ceremony through music and dance while the spectators were also invited to participate by flashing lights and releasing huge party-poppers from a special Ceremony pack that was beneath every seat in the stadium.

Then the production moved on to celebrate Arabic culture by bringing on the desert riders of Qatar, who drew a great cheer on their powerful steeds. This was followed by a dynamic display focussing on the golden age of Arabic science, proceeding through time, passing the present day and looking into the future.

Every moment brings a new surprise, a new light show and new costumes for the thousands of performers who fill the arena.

The tale ended with a flourish as Qatar promised Doha would be a city of the future amid a flurry of fireworks that left the spectators spellbound.

Hong Kong, China entertainer Jackie Cheung then sang ‘Together Now’ accompanied by hundreds of drummers as the Games' flag bearers entered the arena.

Next, the athletes entered the stadium to an enthusiastic reception from the thousands of spectators. Teams entered the stadium in different attires, some wearing tracksuits, others in suits, while countries such as Malaysia arrived in their own national dress. Hundreds of drummers beat out a rhythm for every team.

China were the first big team to enter the arena. They received a warm welcome and there were more cheers too as teams from India, Pakistan and Indonesia arrived, while the Gulf States were also roundly applauded.

The team from Kazakhstan had the most flamboyant headgear, parading in blue fedoras, while the Saudi Arabian team wowed the audience with glittery robes. IR Iran received a loud welcome as they entered the stadium with their Talisman Hossein Reza Zadah, the Iranian Hercules leading the way carrying the flag.

There were emotional welcomes too for the teams from Iraq and Palestine while those from Jordan, Oman and Lebanon also received huge support from the watching audience.

However, the loudest cheer of the night was left for the host nation, Qatar. The vast team took five minutes to walk to their positions as they stopped to be greeted by the waving Emir.

Whilst all the athletes were in place, Indian starlet Sunidhi Chauhan sang the song ‘Reach out’ as hundreds of children ran into the arena holding white doves, once again symbolising the peaceful nature of the Games.

The Heir apparent HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani took to the stage with the Olympic Council of Asia President, Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah and greeted the athletes by saying the gathering here today celebrates young Asians and confirms the future of sports in the region.

The OCA president added that “The athletes are the core of the Games, years of practising and hard work will now be put to the test. I call upon athletes to engage in a competitive spirit and be fair to each other.”

It was then left to HH The Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani to officially open the Games, followed by a short burst of fireworks while Spanish tenor José Carreras sang a duet with Magida El Roumi and entranced the audience.

But then it was to the ceremonial duty everyone had been waiting for. The lights were dimmed and the 15th Asian Games Torch entered, carried by world champion bowler Salem Bu Sharbak.

He passed on to star footballer Mubarak Mustafa who then exchanged with shooter Nasser Al Attiya. Attiya handed over to legendary middle distance runner Mohamed Suleiman who in turn handed on to former football international Mansour Muftah who finally passed the Flame to former international sprinter Talal Mansour

The Torch final found its way to Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani, the Qatari equestrian captain who rose through the floor of the stadium astride his horse to accept the Flame.

After giving a brief salute to the Emir, Al-Thani then turned and urged his mount into a gallop as he gallantly rode up a ramp that reached the full height of the stadium, much to the audience’s amazement.

At the top the Torch lit a gold star, which turned upwards within revolving circles which became the astrolabe of the Seekers quest. The Flame was lit signalling the start of the 15th Asian Games.

Pyrotechnics then took over as the huge Sport Tower ignited at its peak into another glowing flame. Then a final volley of fireworks concluded the evening in spectacular fashion echoing all over Doha.

After the conclusion of events, Deepa Vish, a Doha resident from India said, “All I can say is that I am speechless. This has been an experience of a lifetime. It was absolutely fabulous and I am proud to be a resident of Doha.”

Echoing her comments was 12 year-old Simon Borghesi, who said: “It’s the best show I’ve seen in my life. My favourite part was when the rider went up the stadium and the fireworks afterwards.”

Meanwhile, another audience member was just as breathless with excitement. Joni Reyes said: “It was marvellous. I didn’t expect anything as beautiful as this. It cannot be better than this.”

So the Opening Ceremony was a spectacular show of culture and dazzling effects.

Was it this greatest show on earth?

If you were there you had to believe it.

Doha, Qatar Opening Ceremony - Fri 1 Dec

This is it: the Big Day has arrived

Today, Friday, 1 December, the long awaited Opening Ceremony of the 15th Asian Games in Doha. So, after 55 days ‘on the road’ – the last six on Qatari territory – travelling more than 50,000km in 15 countries and regions, the Flame of the 15th Asian Games had its final outing today in Doha, the capital of Qatar.

The first of today’s final 89 Torchbearers took to the roads in cloudy conditions today at 07:30. This was Abdullah Al Sheeb, who set off with the Flame in front of the Museum of Islamic Arts at the south end of the Corniche, flanked by two supporters on wheelchairs. In all nearly 1,000 Torchbearers had carried the Flame during its march through Qatar.

More Torchbearers came and went as the Flame’s route progressed along Al Corniche Street before reaching the giant Orry, the Games mascot, where it stopped directly under the 15th Asian Games Countdown Clock. The clock indicating that it was now only a few hours before the Opening Ceremony.

Orry is the lovable Games official mascot, almost a cult symbol now in Qatar; in real life, however, Orry represents an Arabian oryx, antelope-like in appearance, graceful, with striking black and white markings on its face and long, sweeping, pointed horns. Once close to extinction, the oryx now lives and breeds in protected herds. In Qatar, one of the largest herds is based at the Al-Shahhaniya farm west of Doha.

Back on the road … Among today’s Torchbearers was one of the most famous middle distance runners of recent times: Hicham El-Gourrouj, who dominated 1,500m /mile running in the late 1990s and in the early years of the 21st century. Winner of the 1,500m in the Athens Olympic Games of 2004, he opted to run two legs with the Flame – an easy feat for the former mile and metric mile world record holder. Mr El-Gourrouj is one of the Ambassadors for ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence in Qatar.

The Flame then continued its way past the pyramid-shaped Sheraton Hotel which has established itself as one of Doha’s best known architectural landmarks.

On past the City Centre shopping mall, and a stop at the sprawling Athletes’ Village, before heading for head office – the ‘epicentre’,– of the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC), the all-important body that had been entrusted with the responsibility of delivering the 15th Asian Games in Doha – the Games of your Life.

Not surprisingly, the Flame received an excited welcome from the entire workforce, many wearing colourful Games uniforms and waving flags. The Flame was carried into the building – DAGOC 1 – and made its way to the fourth floor, where it was warmly received by Abdulla Khalid Al-Qahtani, the Director General of DAGOC.

As rain began to fall on the modern desert city of Doha, the Flame reached Al-Sadd Sports Club soon after 11:00. This marked the official end of the Torch Relay, ahead of this evening’s Opening Ceremony at the stunning Khalifa Stadium.

Last steps for the Relay will be the triumphal arrival of the Flame at Khalifa Stadium where it will light the Cauldron and signifies the start of the Games.

The 50,000-seat Khalifa Stadium forms part of the Sport City complex just outside central Doha, which includes ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence. The ground-breaking ASPIRE opened its doors in November 2005 and houses an indoor athletics stadium, a 5,000-seater football stadium, an Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving pools, plus seven multi-purpose sports halls. It is the largest indoor multi-sports dome in the world.

Apart from being the venue for the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, Khalifa Stadium, which had a new state-of-the-art running track laid out in May 2005, will host the Games’ track and field programme.

Let sporting battle commence…

pics of yesterdays torch relay http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/torchrelay/thejourney/torchphotos.aspx?id=110

Opening Ceremony pics http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/news/photogallerybytopic.aspx?id=501&Cat_Id=12

Today Sports

Badminton Live

Baseball Live

Basketball

Beach Volleyball Live

Boxing

Chess Live

Football

Gymnastics Artistic

Hockey Live

Judo

Kabaddi

Sepaktakraw Live

Shooting Live

Soft Tennis

Swimming

Table Tennis Live

Volleyball

Weightlifting Live

it was great... sad though that they had to cut some scenes and that was why the ceremony was dull at some points...



did you guys notice the woman that slipped on stage? i think that was in the "Tob tob ya bahr" segment... she even rolled for a while and managed to get up again...

it kinda disturbed me also with how they lit up the Aspire tower... the cauldron inside the stadium was lit with the asian games flame... but the flame on the aspire tower was lit,i think, electronically... i was kinda hoping they'd go through with the falcon carrying the flame to the tower... ending up as roasted falcon.... joking... hehehehehehehehehe

Yeah, I noticed the slipping woman. But the camera man did his best to hide the woman behind the others, so many might not have noticed it!

And about the flame... Same thing here. First when I heard he was using a horse and then they said how steep it was going to be, I was like OMG! He's gonna climb up 318m with a horse!! lol!

Damn!!! I didnt see the woman falling :bash: :bash: :bash: would have been a good laugh! poor girl

loooooooooool i know i also thoute how will he climb aspire tower with a horse then i felt relxed he almost fell whene he was going to that twisting thingy magcy

Pictures!
(Sorry for the quality, had to use my phone)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00346.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00352.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00365.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00366.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00367.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00370.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00374.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00376.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00377.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00382.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00404.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00406.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v84/amrja/DSC00410.jpg

thanks for the pic amrja

Amazing pics amrja!!
Thanks for sharing them!

absolute magic....

Album : Opening Ceremony: Inside the Arena

http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/news/photogallerybytopic.aspx?pagenum=1&id=606&Cat_Id=11

I was waiting for 6 years now.And wow,wasn't it awesome

Album : Opening Ceremony: Performers

http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/news/photogallerybytopic.aspx?pagenum=1&id=605&Cat_Id=11

6 or 4 years?

foot ball Qatar v.s Uzbukistan today 7:45pm watch it

6 or 4 years?

Qatar was chosen as the 15th Asian Games host back in 2000.

WooooooW great !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1,000 posts

^^^congrats

thanks

Day 1 - 1 December, 2006

The greatest show on earth

Tonight the 15th Asian Games exploded into life with the most spectacular Opening Ceremony ever staged.

All the anticipation was worth it, even the most ambitious leaked secret didn’t do justice to the reality. The Ceremony was a spectacle indeed.

From the moment in the preliminary entertainment when scores of Qatari children ran on to the arena and built a traditional Arabic sadu carpet from huge, billowing skeins of cloth, while all about others cycled and ran about in a celebration of youth and sport, it was clear that something special was in prospect.

First a huge Qatari flag created from flaming torches carried by hundreds of white clad men, then the main dish, a fable told with magnificent imagery, stunning lighting, flamboyant costumes and the theme of progress through the Asian world.

A 157m-wide LED cyclorama, a huge video screen that is the biggest ever created, towered over one side of the stadium and showed the backdrop to the fable; seas, storms, even the fearsome form of Abu Darya who dwells beneath the sea and tried to ensnare our hero, the Seeker, navigating his way with an astrolabe.

As the tale unfolded we moved through Asia from Qatar to India, on to the Far East and along the fabled Silk Road, every step of the way our senses assaulted by sight and sound, movement and music.

Moving through Asia we also moved through time, enumerating the achievements of Asian peoples from past times to the present day. The finale of the section brought in space rockets, flying in over the stadium roof, ridden by very brave performers indeed.

Then it was the turn of the athletes. All 45 countries and regions paraded into the arena, preceded by their flag bearers. From Afghanistan, with the flag carried by Obaidullah Arghand Iwal, to Yemen preceded by Anas Aqlan, colourful uniforms and national dress filled the stadium to continuous cheers.

But the biggest cheer was reserved for the last team to enter, the home nation. The 359 Qatari athletes, supported by their officials, entered and paraded the perimeter, to stop and be welcomed by HH The Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani.

Lighting the Flame

Then it was the time for the last act of the Torch Relay, into the stadium and up to light the Games Cauldron.

The 15th Asian Games Torch Relay has covered over 50,000km, passed through 15 countries and regions and has given thousands of Torchbearers the opportunity to carry the 15th Asian Games Flame. Now it was on the last lap, literally.

Six special Torchbearers carried the Flame around the perimeter of the arena, past the athletes assembled in the centre. The six, Salem Bu Sharbak, Mubarak Mustafa, Nasser Al-Attiya, Mohammed Suleiman, Mansour Muttah and Talal Mansour, embraced as they passed the Torch between them, enjoying the moment.

Finally Talal Mansour approached a bronze and steel stage in the shape of the Asian Games sun, which opened like a flower to reveal HE Sheikh Mohammed Bin Hamad Al-Thani astride a magnificent black horse.

The Flame was passed to HE Sheikh Mohammed who set of at a canter towards the opposite side of the stadium where a steep ramp led to the very top of the tiers of seats. With a magnificent effort, horse and rider made the seemingly-impossible ascent, to be met by the slowly rising Cauldron.

The Flame jumped the gap and the Cauldron transformed into a magnificent astrolabe, the icon of the Seeker’s journey, completing the symbolism of the night.

As the cheers died away, the fireworks began, rending the sky above Qatar and making night day.

Never has there been such an opening to an Asian Games, never to any games if the truth be known.

The Games of your Life were underway.

Initial competitive encounters begin tomorrow with shooting at 07:00 at Lusail archery and shooting complex.

HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani, captain of Qatar’s equestrian endurance team, who galloped his steed Malibu up the long, steep slope to light the Cauldron and bring to an end the 50,000km journey of the Doha 2006 Flame.

Who else could be Orry’s Hero today but Malibu the horse, who gamely carried his master HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani up the slope at Khalifa Stadium to light the Cauldron. The sport of Qatar’s ancestors set underway this most modern of sporting events – the 15th Asian Games Doha 2006.

Forty thousand spectators watched the Opening Ceremony in the Khalifa Stadium, witnessing an astonishing 32,000 pyrotechnical effects. The spectacular culminated in the lighting of the Doha 2006 Flame in the 50-metre high Cauldron, beamed in close-up to the world via a 157-metre wide LED screen.

any more info about the horse that Sheikh Mohammed was riding?

http://files.photojerk.com/tietupian/zgsj52.jpg

Behind the scenes

Skies are clearing and there is tension in the white tents where the performers and support teams are readying themselves for the Opening Ceremony for the 15th Asian Games. Time is moving inexorably towards the big moment.

As the grey rain clouds which have uncharacteristically dogged Doha on its most distinguished day are disappearing, however, the nerves begin to surface, but good nerves, not bad ones.

Earlier in the Khalifa Stadium they were worried. Assistant Stage Manager Rami Hallal scratched his head as he looked at a damp centre circle.

“It was a bit serious earlier,” said the Lebanese, eyeing the weather, “but it won’t stop things, now it’s much better.” Rami is clearly very proud of all the things they have planned – the massive fireworks displays and things which fly into the stadium on pulleys – though he won’t divulge any secrets. He wants it all to work. Producer David Atkins has revealed there will be four never-before-attempted aspects to the Opening Ceremony.

But now it has stopped raining. The performers preparing for the ‘Asian’ segment of the show were never worried.

Hundreds of children in every conceivable colour are directed to different areas to be briefed. Like all children they are excited, but aren’t unruly, they seem to have taken their roles to heart.

Inside another white tent, make-up artists concentrate on spraying faces as if on the production line in a toy factory. One man from India is a Tiger; a Thai girl’s face is just completely white.

Nearer to the Stadium they are preparing the pyrotechnics. Men with hard hats and stern faces bob up and down on cherry pickers testing wires, inspecting connections as outside another tent a 20-something man limbers up for a dance routine, he shimmies and stretches like Michael Jackson.

The lights come on, the sun is setting. Considering the stakes it is all amazingly calm, quiet and serene.

Outside, front of house as they say back here, the crowds are arriving, laughing and joking as they search for their seats and look forward to the night ahead, the opening of the Games of their Life.

well its an arabic horse was trained on mountains to handel such a steep way thats for now

qat-uzb till now
0 - 0

China rule the pool

To the rousing cheers of their red flag-waving fans China’s swimmers claimed five of the six aquatic medals at stake in the first night of swimming finals.

Pang Jiaying and Yang Yu, gold and silver medallists in the women’s 200m freestyle, were the first on the podium after Pang upset the form book by leading from the front to beat defending champion Yang. The fastest qualifier, Japan’s Maki Mita, silver medallist in Busan four years ago, claimed bronze.

Pang, the only swimmer in the final to go under two minutes, took out the gold medal in a time of 1:59.26.

She had to deal with strong competition, however. Pang qualified second fastest for the final, had a slow start and was fourth at the halfway mark

It was China 1-2 again in the women’s 100m butterfly final in which Zhou Yafei successfully defended her title by finishing 0.34 seconds ahead of compatriot Xu Yanwei, who had surprisingly led for most of the race from lane 1. Tao Li claimed bronze for Singapore.

Zhou's time of 58.39 was just one one-hundreth of a second short of equalling the Asian record (58.38) set by Liu Limin of China in 2004 .

The 100m butterfly gold is Zhou's third Asian Games gold medal. At the 2002 Asian Games in Busan, Korea she not only won gold in 100m butterfly but also in the 4x100m medley relay.

Singaporean youngster Tao Li learned that being the fastest in the heats is no guarantee for gold. The 16-year-old missed the silver medal by half a body length. Tao's time was 58.96, which was enough to earn her first Asian Games medal. She will get another chance for gold in the 50m butterfly on 7 December.

Yeo Joscelin of Singapore, who won the bronze medal at Busan 2002, was nowhere near a medal today. The slowest qualifier for the final, Yeo finished 8th in 1:00.65.

With no Chinese swimmers entered in the race, Japan’s Hidemasa Sano stormed to victory from the front to clinch the men’s 400m medley ahead of compatriot Shinya Tanguchi, who valiantly closed down the huge lead Sano accumulated early in the race but couldn’t quite catch him so had to settle for silver. Korea’s Han Kyu Chul claimed bronze.

However after this brief respite there was more Chinese joy as pre-race favourite Ji Liping confirming her status by winning the women’s 50m breastroke in a new Asian Games record of 31.52, edging out Japan’s Asami Kitagawa, who finished 2nd ahead of Wang Qun, China’s only bronze medallist of the evening.

In the celebratory atmosphere enjoyed at most major swimming championships the biggest cheers of the night came in the men’s 200m butterfly final when Wu Peng out-swam Japanese pair, Takeshi Matsuda and Ryuichi Shibata, who claimed silver and bronze, in a close-fought three-way tussle.

Talking of his winning technique afterwards he said: “My aim is not to be left behind too much at the start, because my forte is the second half. So if I can keep up with my rivals and not lag behind too much I can win the second half.

"It is my personal best record. This result exceeded my expectations and I am very, very happy.

"With this result I could have won at the World Championships and it is the second best time in the world this year."

He then thanked his mother for her support.

Pang and Zhou returned to the rostrum for the final medal ceremony of the night as part of the China team which once again outfought Japan in the women’s 4 x 100m medley, with Pang holding on against a spirited final leg swim by earlier bronze medallist Maki Mita.

The Land of the Rising Sun

For so long Japan sat pretty atop the medal table at each Asian Games, but having lost that honour to rivals China at the 1982 edition of the Games in New Delhi, they have since slipped to third behind Korea in all but the Hiroshima Games of 1994.

This means that the 628-strong Japanese delegation arrived in Doha for the 15th Asian Games on a mission to not only reclaim second spot, but to also haul themselves closer to China, who won 150 gold medals in Busan four years ago in comparison to their rivals' 44 - less than half the Korean tally of 96.

Japan though still lead the way in the number of Asian Games medals won overall with 2,188 in comparison to China's 1,799 and the 1,356 of Korea. While they have won more silver (746) and bronze (654) medals, however, it is China who have won more gold medals with 819 to Japan's 788.

The dominance of these three Asian superpowers is easy to see when you consider that the fourth most successful Asian Games nation is India with a total of 427 medals - which equates to only a fifth of the number won by Japan alone - and that divide will widen further in Doha.

In fact when you add all of the medals won by all the other countries and regions they add up to 3,721 – significantly less than the 5,343 of China, Japan and Korea put together.

The Japanese squad charged with reclaiming second spot in Asia - as they did at the Athens Olympic Games of 2004 - is made up of 352 male and 276 female athletes, some 30 fewer than the number who returned from Busan with 190 medals.

This slight reduction is, however, according to Japanese Olympic Committee vice president Tsutomu Hayashi, merely down to the focus on winning more gold medals in Doha.

"We have cut our size because our aim is to win medals," Mr Hayashi told AFP. "We want to put our gold medal target above 50. We want to overtake Korea and climb to second place."

In the deep end

Their best-ever Olympic performance was at the Olympics in Athens – when they won a record 37 medals, 16 of them gold – means Japan will arrive confident of overhauling Korea for the coveted second spot as they build towards the Beijing Olympics in 2008.

"We regard the Asian Games as an important step toward the Beijing Olympics. If we can't win in Asia, we cannot fight in Beijing," Hayashi added.

Japan's best hopes of medals are in the disciplines of swimming, women’s wrestling, judo and athletics with team captain Kosuke Kitajima and flagbearer Saori Yoshida among the athletes expected to retain their Asian Games titles.

Kitajima is the biggest hope in the pool, the 24 year-old not only being the defending 100m and 200m breaststroke at the Asian Games, but also the reigning Olympic champion over the distances.

Voted the Athlete of the 2002 Asian Games after his victories – the 200m coming in a world record time – Kitajima is also entering the 50m breaststroke in Doha and will be hoping to bounce back after a year of illness and injury problems.

Some of Japan’s leading swimmers are missing the event to focus on the World Championships in March, but hopes are high that Takashi Yamamoto can claim a third successive men’s 100m butterfly crown in Doha.

Two other defending champions in the pool are Reiko Nakamura and Yuko Nakanishi in the women’s 200m backstroke and 200m butterfly respectively. The pair also collected bronze medals in the Athens Olympics.

Athletics in the 14th Asian Games yielded only two gold medals for Japan, but only 200m sprinter Shingo Suetsugu will defend his title.

On track for success

Olympic champion and Japanese darling, Murofushi was seeking a third straight Asian Games title, an achievement which would have taken him one nearer to emulating the five hammer gold medals his father Shigenobu won between 1970 and 1986, but a pulled calf muscle has eliminated him from the competition, denying Japan an almost certain medal.

Meanwhile on the track Kayoko Kumiko will be hoping to go one better than the two silver medals she won in the women’s 5000m and 10,000m four years ago behind Sun Yingjie of China.

Japan could also serve up a double in the inaugural Asian Games triathlons with Hirokatsu Tayama and Ai Ueda having won the men’s and women’s events at the Asian Championships in Jiayuguan, China in August.

On the volleyball court at Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall, Japan will hope to avenge their defeat by main Asian rivals China in the recent Women’s World Championship fifth place playoff with MVP of that tournament Yoshie Takeshita leading the way.

The Japanese artistic gymnastics team will also have a point to prove in Doha after a disappointing World Championships in October. They will look to Hiroyuki Tomita to lead their challenge against a Chinese team who swept the board then.

While Japan will be underdogs in the gymnastics hall, it will be a major surprise if they do not dominate the women’s wrestling events, given the number of defending Asian Games champions or Olympic medallists in their ranks.

The undoubted star in women’s wrestling is Yoshida, who won the inaugural 55kg freestyle Asian Games title in 2002 and has gone on to become a four-time world champion and Olympic champion.

Sporting superstar

Yoshida has also not lost an international match at senior level in her career, a remarkable run which now stretches back eight years and encompasses more than 100 matches. She is, quite simply, a superstar of the sport.

She is not Japan’s only medal hope, however, as sisters Kaori and Chiharu Icho have impressive credentials, particularly the younger Kaori who since claiming 63kg silver in Busan, has won three world titles and the Olympic crown.

Chiharu meanwhile picked up the silver medal in the 48kg division in Athens. Another contender is defending Asian Games champion Kyoko Hamaguchi in the 72kg division, who also won the bronze medal in Athens.

The sport of judo originated in Japan and their judokas would naturally be expected to dominate, given the Olympic champions they have in their ranks, including women’s +63kg and 70kg stars Ayumi Tanimoto and Masae Ueno.

However a disappointing showing at the World Team Championships back in September, when their men and women failed to reach the final, makes talk of winning all 16 gold medals seem a little ambitious to say the least.

Whether their judokas do return to winning form remains to be seen, but regardless of that the land of the rising sun will see many of its athletes mount the top step of the podium on numerous occasions in Doha.

Will they do so enough times to surpass Korea? Only time will tell.

kuw vs ple LIVE
1 - 0

bahrain vs bangladish LIVE
2 - 0

qatar vs uzbakistan LIVE
0 - 0

todays already finished matches (football) were:

uae - jordan
1 - 1

Kyrgyzstan - Thailand
0 - 2

Vietnam - Korea
0 - 2

Qat lost,
Qat vs Uzbekistan
0-1

oh mannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn :(

hopefully we might win agenst uae 5th dec :)

I got really mad ! Cant believe Qatar lost :(

the other gcc contreys won

bahrain - bangaladish
5 - 1

Kuwait - Palestine
2 - 0

todays football schedual


Men's Round 2 Group D Match 31
IND - MDV 17:15 Al-Sadd Football Stadium - - Scheduled

Men's Round 2 Group E Match 32
MAS - CHN 17:15 Al-Arabi Football Stadium - - Scheduled

Men's Round 2 Group F Match 33
SYR - JPN 17:15 Qatar Sports Club Stadium - - Scheduled

Men's Round 2 Group E Match 34
OMA - IRQ 19:45 Al-Arabi Football Stadium - - Scheduled

Men's Round 2 Group F Match 35
PRK - PAK 19:45 Qatar Sports Club Stadium - - Scheduled

Men's Round 2 Group D Match 36
HKG - IRI 19:45 Al-Sadd Football Stadium - - Scheduled

Women strike a pose on the beach

The women’s team beach volleyball competition got off to a compelling start at Sport City on Saturday 2 December as teams faced mixed fortunes on the opening day of competition. Pairings from Japan and Thailand dominated their matches while those from Kazakhstan recorded defeats to see their medal hopes disappear in this competition.

Kazakh pair Yelena Alenkina and Marina Storozhenko stepped on court for the final and best match of the day against Heidi Ilustre and Diane Pascua of the Philippines. In a match lasting just over one hour, the Philippine duo took the first set before Alenkina and Storozhenko stormed back in the second to draw level.

In a close deciding set, however, Ilustre and Pascua edged the match but needed four match points to complete a 2–1 victory (21–16, 11–21, 17–15). Afterwards, Ilustre thanked the large vocal support for helping them get through. “We knew that a lot of Filipinos were here and the crowd was extremely helpful. The crowd was awesome and they helped to give us confidence and strength in the third set.”

Meanwhile, a shocked Storozhenko said: “I don’t want to talk about this match, I’m extremely disappointed. We lost because we made mistakes on attack and on the block. I’m really disappointed but we will try and do our best in the next match.”

Alenkina and Storozhenko’s Kazakhstan team mates Irina Penkina and Olga Dyachenko opened the afternoon’s matches against Tek Eng Luk and Shun Thing Beh from Malaysia but also succumbed to a first round defeat, losing 2–0 (21–19, 21–10).

Having come from behind to take the first set, Luk and Beh ran out convincing winners in the second and will now face the No 1 seeds from China Tian Jia and Wang Jie in the next round. On facing the Chinese, Beh remarked: “We will try our very best but, as you are aware with China’s world ranking, the players are much taller than us.”

Both Japanese pairings passed fairly comfortable examinations with fourth seeds Chiaki Kusuhara and Satoko Urata smashing their way past Iraq duo Liza Aghasy and Lida Agasi 2–0 (21–4, 21–11). Meanwhile, Shinako Tanaka and Eiko Koizumi cruised past the Mongolian team Bayarmaa Tsogtbaatar and Enkhmaa Yarinpil by the same score (21–4, 21–11).

Thailand’s two teams also recorded convincing victories to move through to the next round with Kamoltip Kulna and Jarunee Sannok beating Sri Lanka’s Geethika Lalani Gunawardana and Withanage Sujeewa Wijesinghe 2–0 (21–8, 21–13) and Yupa Phokongploy and Usa Tenpaksee storming past Kong Cheuk Yee and Tse Wing Hung from Hong Kong, China 2–0 (21–11, 21–13).

Tenpaksee entered the court with a heavily strapped ankle but played down the injury by saying: “I fell in the bathroom on Friday and sprained my ankle, but today, although there is strapping there, it didn’t cause me any problems.”

Superstars set for centre stage

Some of the biggest names in international sport will take centre stage at the 15th Asian Games on Sunday 3 December. China’s women’s artistic gymnastics team who triumphed at the recent World Championships in Denmark will be heavily fancied to land the gold once again. China have won this particular gold medal at the last eight editions of the Asian Games and it will be a major surprise if they do not maintain their run at Doha 2006.

The action gets underway at ASPIRE Hall 2 at 14:30. Meanwhile, over in the swimming competition at the Hamad Aquatic Centre, Japanese superstar Kosuke Kitajima will bid for the first of a targeted golden hat-trick in the 50m breaststroke.

Four years ago at Busan 2002, Kitajima caused one of the biggest sensations of the Games when he set a brand new record for the 200m breaststroke. He went on to win double gold in the 100m and 200m breaststroke at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games to establish himself as a true global superstar of the pool.

Over the short one-length distance, which can often be unpredictable, he is probably at his most vulnerable and it will be interesting to see how he fares before moving onto his favoured distances later in the week. The men’s 50m breaststroke final takes place at 18:52.

His international team-mate Reiko Nakumura is another worth watching in the women’s 200m backstroke. She is the defending champion and has also collected Olympic Games and World Championship bronze medals over the distance. The women’s 200m backstroke final takes place at 18:44.

Back on dry land, the cycling events get underway with the men’s road race. At last year’s Asian Championships in Malysia, IR Iran’s Mahdi Sohrabi used his qualities as a sprinter to take gold and he is a likely contender once again. The event takes place on a spectator-friendly street circuit on the Corniche, starting at 11:00.

Indoors, the table tennis team finals will take place at the Al-Arabi Indoor Hall. China are the current world champions for both men and women and are hot tips for gold again.

But they cannot afford to be complacent with Hong Kong, China expected to push them hard in the men’s event and Korea expected to do the same in the women’s. The women’s final begins at 15:00, with the men’s getting underway three hours later.

Four gold medals will also be contested in the judo competition, where Japan is expected to enjoy plenty of success. Finals for the men’s 90kg, men’s 81kg, women’s 70kg and women’s 63kg will take place.

In the women’s 70kg, Olympic champion Masae Ueno (Japan) will be hoping to improve on the bronze she won four years ago at Busan 2002. Whilst in the women’s 63kg event, current Olympic champion Ayumi Tanimoto (Japan) is the one to beat. All judo finals will take place at the Qatar Sports Club Indoor Hall, beginning at 19:45.

In weightlifting, three gold medals are up for grabs at the Al-Dana Banquet Hall and China will be expectant. Chen Yanqing won gold in the women’s 58kg class at the 2004 Olympics, Qui Lee is world champion in the men’s 62kg class and Shi Zhiyong is the Olympic champion in the men’s 69kg class. The action gets underway at 09:00.

Scores of bowlers will be hoping to strike gold at the Qatar Bowling Centre where the men’s and women’s singles events will take place. Singapore’s Remy Ong is the man to beat.

As well as being the defending champion, Ong is also the current world champion. In the women’s competition, 2005 world champion Esther Cheah Mei Lan of Malaysia, will be tough to beat. The action begins at 09:00.

Accuracy will also be the key to success at the Lusaill Shooting Range, where the men’s trap, men’s 10m air pistol and the women’s 10m air pistol finals will take place. The action gets underway at 08:00.

Team finals will also take place in the men’s and women’s soft tennis, where Korea should be strong contenders. The women’s final begins at 13:00 at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Centre, with the men’s commencing two hour later.

Beach volleyball continues at Sport City Temporary Venue. China’s top women’s partnership Tian Jia and Wang Fei, who finished second on the prestigious World Tour this year, will enter the fray for the first time.

Chess, making its first Asian Games appearance, continues at the Al-Dana Indoor Hall with the men’s and women’s Rapid Swiss competitions. More obvious aggression will be apparent at ASPIRE Hall 5, where the men’s boxing continues with preliminary contests in the men’s flyweight and featherweight classes.

Elsewhere, ongoing team competitions will continue in kabaddi, sepaktakraw, hockey, volleyball, badminton, baseball, basketball and football, whilst the handball competition will also get underway.

One of the best of the day’s team contests is likely to be the Japan v China clash at the Al-Rayyan Baseball Softball Centre. Japan is the current Olympic bronze medallists and China won gold at the 2005 Asian Championships.

Also expect there to be plenty of excitement at the Basketball Indoor Hall, where Qatar play their second game in the men’s competition against Bahrain at 20:30. The hosts enjoyed a crushing 99-59 victory over Syria in their opening game on Thursday 30 November.

[Handball Competition Schedule


Men's Preliminary League Group A Match M01
BRN - MAC 10:00 Al-Gharrafa Indoor Hall Running LIVE
32 - 5

Men's Preliminary League Group C Match M02
JPN - UZB 12:00 Al-Gharrafa Indoor Hall Scheduled

Men's Preliminary League Group D Match M03
KOR - SYR 14:00 Al-Gharrafa Indoor Hall Scheduled ----

Men's Preliminary League Group B Match M04
CHN - IRI 16:00 Al-Gharrafa Indoor Hall Scheduled ----

Men's Preliminary League Group A Match M05
QAT - IND 18:00 Al-Gharrafa Indoor Hall Scheduled ----

Men's Preliminary League Group C Match M06
UAE - KSA 20:00 Al-Gharrafa Indoor Hall Scheduled ----

bahrain - macau LIVE
34 - 5

bahrain - macue
36 - 6

bahrain - macue
37 - 6

bahrain - macue
38 - 7

handball

bahrain - macue
41 - 8

Chess: Surprises on the first day

There were surprises in both the men’s and women’s rapid Swiss tournament held in Al-Dana hall yesterday, 2 December. In the men’s, No 1 ranked man’s player, Sasikiran Krishnan, performed poorly, with one victory, defeat and draw after three rounds, to give him 1.5pts. In the women’s tournament, Atousa Pourkashiyan of IR Iran shared the top of the table after her surprise defeat of Qatar’s Zhu Chen who is one of the favourites for gold. Pourkashivan is not yet a grandmaster, while Zhu Chen started as the tournament’s No 2.

In other results, seven players achieved 2.5pts out of a three point maximum after three rounds in the men’s nine-round rapid Swiss tournament in Al-Dana Indoor Hall. Two of the current favourites, Rustam Kasimdzhanov of Uzbekistan and Murtas Kazhgaleyev of Kazakhistan drew their encounter in the third round after both scoring consecutive wins in rounds one and two, putting them at the top of the table. They collected the same score as Thien Hai Dao of Vietnam and Yue Wang of China, who also agreed to a draw in the third round.

The other top performers so far are: International Master Enamul Hossain from Bangladesh, who held India's number three Harikrishna Pentala to a draw; Grandmaster Anh Dung Nguyen of Vietnam who beat Darmen Sadvassakov of Kazakhstan in the third round; and Elshan Moradiabadi of IR Iran who did away with Utut Adianto Wahjuwidajat after a long, tense and interesting fight.

With six rounds to play, the top rankings will probably change dramatically. India’s Krishnan was a pre-tournament favourite and may yet settle, but at this level of chess half-point is precious, and Krishnan is already 1.5pts down. Xiangzhi Bu of China, ranked No 4 overall at the beginning of the tournament, also performed poorly in the tournament, losing an early match and leaving him a half-point adrift of the leaders. The two Qatari representatives, Mohammed Al Medaihki and Mohammed Al Sayed also have two points, after they split the point in a round-three encounter.

In the women’s rapid Swiss tournament Humpy Koneru of India and and Atousa Pourkashiyan of IR Iran top the table with three clear wins, giving both a half-point lead. Koneru’s play was impressive – her solid but active style demonstrated that her opponents were no match for her in all of her games.

Chess ranking works on a player’s cumulative score after nine rounds, with one point for victory, 0.5 for a draw and 0 for a lost game. In the event of a tie, the winner is determined by the average ratings of each player’s opponents. The average rating of opponents is the sum of the ratings of opponents divided by the number of rounds. Player ratings are the officially established international chess rank of the player.

handball

bahrain - macue
42 - 8

Distance reduced in cycling road race

Asian Games organisers have decided to reduce the length of the men’s cycling road race on the Corniche today after it was felt that predicted high winds would have lengthened the duration of the event past nightfall.

The distance of the race has now been reduced from 199.7km to 156.4km but is still scheduled to start at 11:00 this morning, Sunday 3 December.

Graham Sycamore, the Cycling Competition Manager said: “The predicted high winds would have had the cyclists finishing in the dark so we have reduced the race from four laps to three for the safety of the riders.”

bahrain - macue
45 - 9

Rowing fans set for unique view

Spectators attending the first day of rowing competition and television viewers around the world will be greeted with a 75 metre underwater banner proclaiming the 15th Asian Games in what is believed to be a world first.

Millions of dollars have been spent on perfecting the Look of the Games and this underwater sign is no exception to Doha innovation. Six to 10 helpers battled one angry crab and a fast-rising tide to install the sign, which displays the official logo and lettering a little less than 7m high.

Starting work at low tide under generator lights, the workers waded out of the canal four hours later with the water at waist level. West Bay Lagoon's Venue Look Manager, Nicholas Bruce, said despite a bit of trial and error, the installation was a great success, "There were a few difficulties, and we had a fairly close call with a good-sized crab that we encountered when we were picking up rocks.

"We learnt the tough way ... for a project that's fairly difficult to do during the day and on land."

The project, which has been long-planned for the rowing course, will provide an exciting look for spectators and television broadcasters. "I would say there's definitely a good view from the grandstand position, but for the cameras it'll prove to be one of those good parting and entry shots," Bruce said.

The opening day’s action will see heats for the double sculls, lightweight double sculls, fours, single sculls and lightweight single sculls for both men and women. One crew to look out for is China’s women’s lightweight double sculls partnership of Yu Hua and Yan Shimin.

Yan, who will take stroke, won gold at this year’s World Rowing Championships with Xu Dongxiang. Her new partner Yu, who will take the bow position at Doha 2006, was part of China’s gold medal winning women’s lightweight quad sculls at August’s World Championships which took place at Eton, England.

Corniche Experience’ gets under way

The Doha Asian Games Organising Committee (DAGOC) unveiled a three-week special carnival – the ‘Corniche Experience’ – on 29 November.

Being organised at the Sheraton Park near the Sheraton Hotel on the Doha Corniche, the celebration features a blend of music, dance, taste and arts showcasing the Asian Games culture as well as Qatar’s history, social life and folklore.

Being organised from noon until midnight, the ‘Experience’ is free to the public and provides a unique opportunity to come together and share the Spirit of the Games.

Since its inauguration on Wednesday, the Sheraton Park has been transformed into an interactive ‘Festival of the Senses’, combining the unique sights, sounds, tastes, textures and aromas of Qatar with the essences of the various sport disciplines on show during the sporting extravaganza.

The ‘Corniche Experience’ provides visitors to the Corniche an opportunity to ‘Engage the Senses of Life’ with interactive displays and activities. Four unique Sense Tents focusing on taste, touch, scent and sight – along with strategically placed Sound Towers – have been put up at the Corniche.

In the Taste Tent, shedding light on nutrition in sport, visitors have on offer an eclectic mix of tastes and flavours from Qatar, including insights into traditional table settings, crafts (plates, silvery, ceramic, pottery) besides an interactive exhibition of the role of nutrition in sport.

The Touch Tent, focusing on textures and equipment in sport, discovers the textures of Qatar and sport and offers the opportunity to “Touch the untouchable” including petrol in its original form. A Retrospective Gallery in the Tent pays tribute to the evolution of sports equipment from yesteryear to the modern.

The Scent Tent stimulates the olfactory senses with the fragrance of Qatari perfumes as also the traditional incense, spices and leather. The zone also comprises a mysterious Gallery, which allows the public to discover fragrances related to sports – the Swimming Pool, Grass field, equipment etc. Visitors also have the opportunity to sample the exclusive perfume developed for the Games.

The Sight Tent – the colours of Qatar, encompasses an interactive photo gallery displaying the desert, sand, sea and spices of the country. At night, visitors pedal on ‘colour bicycles’ generating the colour in the Sight Pavilion and the silhouettes of their actions are projected on to the nearby Salam Towers.

In addition to these tents, special towers broadcast the sounds associated with the sport, Qatar and the Games.

The ‘Corniche Experience’ also comprises a 10m-tall giant screen telecasting live the sporting action from the events, including the Opening and the Closing Ceremonies. Also showcased are performances from across Asia, including Malaysia, Syria, Indonesia, Thailand and Bahrain, photographic exhibitions from Guangzhou China as well as on Islamic Architecture. A local Souq as well as ticketing and merchandising outlets complete the ‘Experience’.

Album : Opening Ceremony: Lighting the Cauldron

http://www.doha-2006.com/gis/menuroot/news/photogallerybytopic.aspx?pagenum=1&id=603&Cat_Id=12

bahrain - macue
48 - 9

bahrain - macue
49 - 9

bahrain - macue
51 - 9

macue is losing in a bad way !!!

bahrain - macue
52 - 10

bahrain - macue
53 - 11

bahrain wins this handball game

I will be back for handball 2:00 pm for a match of korea agenst syria then a match on 6:00 pm of qatar vs india then the last match of the day of uae vs ksa remember this is handball

Heat rises in men’s volleyball competition

High drama and unexpected results captivated the audience at the Al Rayyan Indoor Hall on Saturday 2 December as the men’s volleyball competition continued with more preliminary pool matches.

There was an upset in the first match of the afternoon as the UAE came from behind to beat Lebanon 3–1 (18–25, 25–23, 25–18, 25–23) in a closely fought encounter. It was the Lebanese, however, who started brightly and took the first set after some superb attacking play at the net.

Lebanon started well in the second set, but UAE took command late on and drew level and winning by a slender margin before increasing their lead in set three after Lebanon made spiking and blocking errors.

UAE wrapped up the match in the fourth set after another close encounter, with Hassan Al-Ali catching the eye with a total of 26 points – 23 from powerful spikes and three from blocks.

Saudi Arabia and Kuwait played out a five-set thriller with the Saudis taking the honours 3–2 (26–28, 25–14, 25–20, 23–25, 15–11).

In a tight first set which included a number of errors by both sides, the lead changed constantly until Kuwait made the breakthrough to finally gain a two-point advantage.

The Saudis bounced back in set two and six straight winning points helped them draw the match level before a tight third set finally went the way of Saudi Arabia once again. Abdullah S Al Bahli stood out for the Saudis with unstoppable attacks at the net which helped him to a final total of 25 points.

Husain Al Shatti was always menacing for Kuwait, who took the lead in the fourth set and levelled the match with a brilliant spike from Yousef Al Qallaf. But Saudi Arabia drew strength from a Kuwait service error in the deciding set to clinch the match.

Suadi Arabia coach Senad Begic was unhappy after the game, despite the victory, and said: “I am not satisfied with my team’s performance, we did not play a good game and we did not serve well. We are going to have two days training to try and correct our mistakes. Let’s see what we can do with UAE.”

In the final encounter of the evening Bahrain continued their unbeaten run with a victory over Hong Kong, China in straight sets (25-11, 25-15, 25-19). Wing spiker Jasim Al Nabhan exhibited classic power spikes at the net as Bahrain took control in the first set.

Hong Kong, China’s captain Yu Hing Lung led from the front in the second set by demonstrating classic tips and blocks, but it was not enough to inspire his team and Bahrain’s strength allowed them to pull away.

Efficient blocking from Bahrain always kept them in control in the third set as they saw the match out, and they now face Thailand on Monday 4 December while Hong Kong, China will play neighbours Macau, China.

Todays Volleyball Competition Schedule

Women's Preliminary Pool A Match 7
VIE - TPE 10:00 Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall Start List Results Official LIVE

Women's Preliminary Pool A Match 8
CHN - KOR 12:00 Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall Start List Results Running LIVE

Men's Preliminary Pool B Match 14
MAC - TPE 14:00 Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall Scheduled

Men's Preliminary Pool A Match 15
UAE - KSA 18:00 Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall Scheduled

Men's Preliminary Pool A Match 16
IND - LIB 20:00 Al-Rayyan Indoor Hall Scheduled

Singapore and China set for final

As current world champions, China will go into the women’s table tennis team final on Sunday 3 December as favourites. But their opponents Singapore are capable of causing an upset, as they have showm on more than one occasion already during Doha 2006.

China’s line-up includes veteran Wang Nan, world No 2 Guo Yan and young talents Guo Yue, Chen Qing and Li Xiaoxia. They won gold at the 2006 World Championships in Bremen, Germany.

China defeated Korea in the Saturday’s semifinals 3-0 to earn their place in the final.

Singapore are led by world No 6 Li Jia Wei, supported by Sun Bei Bei, Zhang Xue Ling and Tan Paey Fern. They won gold at the 2005 Southeast Asian Games in Manila, Philippines, but were a disappointing 9th at this year’s World Championships.

But during Doha 2006, Singapore have raised their game to shock World Championship silver medallists Hong Kong, China, by winning their quarterfinal clash 3-1. They then clinched their final berth when defeating defending Asian Games champions DPR Korea 3-2 in their semifinal, after Sun Bei Bei beat Kim Jong in a thrilling deciding tie 7–11, 6–11, 11–8, 11–8, 12–10.

The final takes place at the Al-Arabi Indoor Hall at 15:00.

Dressage: Korean riders united for team victory

Dressage favourites Korea will unite behind the immediate goal of winning the team gold tomorrow, 4 December, but the very next day the same team mates will battle for the top spot at the individual event. Korea benefits from four world class men and women riders on its team.

Because only two riders from each NOC can continue into Tuesday's individual final, two of four Korea riders will have to bid farewell to their medal ambitions after the team competition, which Korea have won at three of the four previous Asian Games with Equestrian competitions.

"We want a gold medal for the team", say Korea riders Choi Jun Sang and Suh Jung Kyun, who are the defending individual gold and silver medallists.

With seven medals in total to his credit, 44-year-old Suh is the most successful rider in Asian Games history. He finished 10th at the 1988 Olympic Games in Seoul, Korea, riding Pascal, formerly owned by the late Reiner Klimke of Germany, who still holds the Olympic record with six gold medals.

Since 1988, Suh has maintained his connection with Germany, which he visits regularly to brush up his riding skills. At home, Suh trains on his own at stables where he keeps 21 horses and gives clinics to other dressage riders. At Doha 2006, he will be riding the 11-year-old stallion Caleostro, who he discovered in Russia two years ago.

Choi Jun Sang, 28, aims to defend both gold his individual and team gold medals with his gelding Dancing Boy, which he rode in Busan 2002. Choi is a member of the Samsung team, which sponsors several competition series around the world and keeps a stable of about 30 horses for dressage and jumping. Choi recently returned from a four-month stay in Germany where he trained with Juergen Koschel, who coached several teams at Olympic Games level.

Shin Soo Jin, another member of the Samsung team, accompanied Choi during his stay in Germany where she prepared Donner Boy for the competition. Doha will be her second try at the Asian Games after she missed out on Busan.

The youngest member of the Korean team is Dong Seon Kim, who took up riding only four years ago. The 17-year-old lives and studies in the United States where he trains with teammate Suh Jung Kyun. He will be riding the 13-year-old gelding Pleasure.

The team final takes place tomorrow, 4 December from 9:00 at the Equestrian Dressage Arena, with the individual final starting at the 14:00 on 5 December at the same location.

{[(>stay tuned for more news<)]}

Thanks for the updates qatar son! and mabruk for your 1,000 posts!:)

Soft tennis: Japan in both finals

Japan could make it a clean sweep in the soft tennis team final with its men and women team both through to the last game. Japan will face Korea in the women’s final later today, and it will face favourites Chinese Taipei in the men’s.

Japan demonstrated and enormous confidence and ability in the early rounds, winning both semifinals in straight matches to score 2–0, and it will certainly mean tenacious battles for soft tennis team gold.

In the first semifinal of the day, 3 December, Korea's women made short work of the Chinese Taipei team, winning in straight matches 2–0. Korea’s Min Soo Kyoung and Lee Bok Soon beat Chou Chiu Ping and Lan Yi Yun 5–3 in the first doubles, while Kim Kyung Ryun beat Chiang Wan Chi 4–2 in the second singles. Korea started the game confidently, a fact noted by Chinese Taipei’s Chou Chiu Ping. “Their motivation was higher than ours," she said.

Korea’s Lee Bok soon reflected that motivation. "We knew we could win. We played calmly for the whole match, even if Chinese Taipei were playing fast. We have very strong strokes and we focused on the attack. For the singles, the fact that Kim Kyung Ryan is tall was a psychological advantage for us,” she said.

In the other women’s semifinal, China lost to Japan 0–2. In the first doubles, Harumi Gyokusen and Ayumi Ueshima beat Zhao Tingting and Zhang Yan 5–0, while in the second single Miwa Tsuji beat Zhao Li 4–2.

In the men’s events, Japan won in straight matches against Korea. Naoya Hanada and Tatsuro Kawamura beat Kim Jae Bok and You Young Dong 5–2 in the first doubles, while Hidenori Shinohara beat Nam Teak Ho 4–2 in the second singles for an overall win of 2–0.

"We lost because of the wind. In Korea we practise hard, but never play in strong wind. I feel sorry for the team, if I had won my singles match it would have helped them in the doubles," Korea’s Nam Teak Ho told reporters after the match.

For the Japanese, though, the team event was much more personal. “This is revenge. Before the match I was keen to have revenge against Korea who beat us in the Asian Games final four years ago (Busan, 2002)," said Japan’s head coach, Hideyuki Kitomoto.

In the last semifinal to finish, Chinese Taipei beat Mongolia 2–0. Chinese Taipei’s Li Chia Hung and Yang Shen Fa beat Temuujin Lkhagvasuren and Bayasgalant Uchirsaikhan 5–0 in the first double, while in the second single Wang Chun Yen beat Bayartogtokh Radnaabazar 4–2.

The women’s team final will start at 13:00 while the men’s begins at 15:00, both games at the Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex.

thanks suzan

1 china total medals 25
2 japan total medals 12
3 korea total medals 12
4 kazakhstan total medals 4
5 kuwait total medals 1

qatar son, dont you have school? dont tell me you have holiday now!! :(

holiday 37 days !!! 1 month and first quarter of january :) ;)

:cry: :cry: snif snif *crying* all took holiday but us! and others too haha

not all my mother goes to work all schools go to except american school , aljazzarea, my school cambridge ,etc

China and Japan set for pool domination

Action in the pool continued at the Hamad Aquatic Centre on Sunday 3 December with a number of qualifying heats taking place ahead of tonight’s six scheduled finals.

1998 and 2002 Asian Games gold medallist, Takashi Yamamoto, convincingly won heat 4 of the 100m butterfly in a time of 53.34, ahead of China’s Zhou Jiawei (55.07), but he will face stiff competition in tonight’s final from fellow countryman Ryo Takayasu – who qualified with a fastest time of 53.30 – and Korea’s Jeong Doo Hee (53.76).

Other contenders for medals in the final will be China’s Wang Dong (54.47) and Malaysia’s Daniel Bego (54.93), but Yamamoto is looking to post a record time this evening. He said: “My feeling is very good and I feel I can be faster tonight. I will try to get the gold medal and I will try to break my best time tonight [52.27, Asian Games Record].”

China and Japan will look to swim off for the top honours in the women’s 400m individual medley after both qualifying fastest in heat 2. Qi Hui (4:43.52) and Maiko Fujino (4:45.27) enjoyed their own personal race with Qi nearly always slightly ahead of her Japanese rival – who briefly took the lead at the halfway mark only to fade in the closing stages.

Yu Rui (4:54.39) of China was victorious in heat 1, ahead of Thailand’s Nimitta Thaveesupsoonthorn, who finished with a personal best time of 4:55.56. But all eyes will be on Fujino and Qiin the final. Qiin said: “I hope I will be in good condition tonight and I will try my best to get the gold, and my personal best time. I have the potential to achieve that goal.

The men’s 200m freestyle final will prove to be an interesting contest as Korea’s Park Tae Hwan looks to break China and Japan’s dominance after swimming the fastest qualifying time, 1:49.75. Asian Games record holder Park will be tested all the way, however, by China’s Zhang Enjian (1:50.71) and Zhang Lin (1:50.96), as well as Japan’s Daisuke Hosokawa (1:50.14).

After qualifying fastest, Park said: “I am very happy with this. I have the confidence to win the final and I hope to get a better Asian Games record time tonight.”

Bai Anqi of China posted the fastest time in the first heat of the women’s 200m backstroke, 2:12.94, closely followed by Takami Igarashi of Japan in a time of 2:13.37. Meanwhile, heat 2 saw Korea’s Jung Yoo Jin qualify (2:13.57) followed by Japan’s Reiko Nakamura (2:15.22) and China’s Zhao Jing (2:16.37).

Kazakhstan’s Vladislav Polyakov raced the fastest time in heat 4 of the men’s 50m breaststroke with a time of 28.42, closely followed by Japan’s three-times Asian Games gold medallist and double Olympic gold medallist, Kosuke Kitajima (28.56) in heat 5.

Hiromasa Sakimoto (28.76) of Japan and China’s Qu Jingyu (28.80) will also be in contention for medals, but Kosuke will be the man to beat, although he admitted not feeling 100 percent in his heat, “I feel so-so. This is my first race in the Asian Games so I wanted to swim relaxed. I feel a little bit nervous, but I will swim faster in the final.”

In the session’s final qualifying heats, Japan raced the fastest time in the women’s 4x100m freestyle relay as Haruka Ueda, Kaori Yamada, Maki Mita and Norie Urabe combined to swim 3:46.84. China took the honours in heat 2 with the quartet Wang Dan, Tang Yi, Li Mo and Tang Jingzhi finishing in 3:48.52.

Korea looks to make up the other potential medallists in this event with Ryu Yoon Ji, Lee Keo Ra, Kim Dal Eun and Park Na Ri qualifying behind Japan in heat 1, posting in 3:48.97.

Table tennis: Indian lose titanic battles

In two titanic struggles, India lost both its showpiece matches in the morning session of the mixed doubles table tennis at Al-Arabi Indoor Hall. The rest of this morning’s competition was marked by seven runaway wins.

Some of the matches lasted only as long as it takes to brew a cup of green tea, but the match between Indian pair Soumyadeep Roy and Mouma Das and Singapore duo GAO Ning and ZHANG Xue Ling enthralled a sizeable crowd.

Roy and Das raced into an early lead in the first set, but then frittered it away to lose 11-9. A similar pattern developed in the second set, but this time Roy and Das held their nerve to win it 11-8. An objection lodged against Gao’s white wristband - which was upheld and saw the wristband taped over - seemed to fire up the Singaporeans and they took the third set comfortably, 11-3.

The fourth set produced excellent rallies and scintillating shots. Locked at 9-9 and then 10-10, it could have gone either way, but the steely concentration of Gao and Zhang saw them prevail 12-10.

India were then given double reason to feel sorry for themselves when Sharath Kamal Achanta and Poulomi Ghatak were drawn against Korea's Lee Jung Woo and Lee Eun Hee, widely regarded as two of the fastest players in the world.

Achanta and Ghatak put up a brave fight, but had no answer to Korea's astoundingly fast footwork and strokes, going down 11-6, 11-8, 11-9. The match was far tighter than the scoreline suggests.

Most of the morning's other matches were straightforward and produced no upsets: Kim Song Choi and Ryom Won Ok of DPR Korea toyed with Sri Lanka's Rohana Sirisena and Deepika Rodrigo, 11-4, 11-2, 11-7 in 15 minutes, while Chuang Chih Yuan and Huang Yi Hua of Chinese Taipei sent Macau China’s Vong Hon Weng and Wong Sio Leng packing in just 10 minutes, the score 11-5, 11-5, 11-3.

Mongolia's Begz Yadmaa and Nomin Erdene Chinbat did well to take one set, but had no answer to the ferocious smashes of Vietnam's Dinh Quang and Luong Thi Tam, losing 11-6, 11-4, 8-11, 11-6.

Vietnam continued their winning ways when Nguyen Nam Hai and Mai Hoang My Trang beat Macau, China pair Iam Tong Hou and Mao Chao In with ease, 11-8, 11-5, 11-5.

Kuwait's Ibrahem I KH I Al Hasan and Fajir Ahmad lost meekly to Japan's Seiya Kishikawa and Ai Fujinuma, 11-5, 11-1, 11-7. For the second time in the morning, Mongolia had to settle for a solitary set as Altantulga Lhagvadorj and Batkhisig Batsaikhan lost to Sri Lanka's Thilina Piyadasa and Kalpani Herath, 9-11, 11-9, 12-10, 11-5.

In the final game of the morning, Ri Chol Guk and Kin Mi Yong of DPR Korea took a while to warm up and lost the first set 10-12 against Chiang Peng Lung and Lu Yun Feng of Chinese Taipei. Then they stepped up a gear to win the next three easily, 11-9, 11-6, 11-4.

The mixed doubles resume during an evening session tomorrow, Monday, 4 December.

Rowing pulls into Doha 2006

West Bay Lagoon,s canal played host to 13 exciting heats as the rowing competition got underway on Sunday morning. Despite the extremely windy and choppy conditions, problems with staging for the starts and one false start, competitors coped admirably to produce some impressive performances

The day opened with the women’s double sculls and saw Bussayamas Phaengkathok and Phuttaraksa Nikree of Thailand win heat 1 in 4:36.93 and Chinese duo of Tian Liang and Li Qin win heat 2 in 4:24.62, both qualify for Wednesday’s final.

Heat runners-up DPR Korea, Kazakhstan and Korea all go through to Monday’s repechage, a final opportunity to reach the final.

The men’s double sculls saw the Chinese crew Su Hui and Cui Yongui lead the qualifiers as they clocked 3:48.64 to win heat 1 and progress to Tuesday’s semifinals, where they will be joined by Korea, Japan, Chinese Taipei, Philippines and Hong Kong, China.

Japan and Philippines both won their heats in difficult circumstances, having mistakenly raced with other crews for 500m despite a re-start being called. India, DPR Korea, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Uzbekistan and Pakistan move on to Monday’s repechage.

In the women’s lightweight double sculls, Yu Hua and Yan Shimin of China, both of whom have won World Championship gold medals, won heat 1 in 4:34.55. However, they suffered a slight scare at the start of their heat as DPR Korea led for the first 250m, before they took the upper hand at 500m.

Their performance was bettered by Japanese duo Akiko Iwamoto and Eri Wakai who heat 2 in 4:30.45. Japan coach Hiroshi Sigitou was pleased with his team’s performance. He said: "The crew did very well and was the fastest over China, who were the favourites."

China and Japan go straight through to Wednesday’s final, leaving DPR Korea, Chinese Taipei, Uzbekistan and Thailand to fight out the remaining finals places in Monday’s repechage.

Indian duo Kiran Yalamanchi and Bijender Singh were the most impressive qualifiers from the men’s lightweight double sculls, winning their heat in 4:15.29 to head the qualifiers for Tuesday’s semifinals. They will be joined by Japan, Chinese Taipei and Hong Kong, China who won their respective heats to progress automatically.

Pakistan, Iraq, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Uzbekistan, Thailand, DPR Korea, Vietnam and Kazakhstan will meet in Monday’s repechage.

In the women’s coxless four oar, the final event of the morning session, China won heat 1 in 4:23.04 despite stroke losing her slide in the last 100m, Korea finished second. DPR Korea won heat 2 in 4:37.56, followed by India.

All four crews progress through to Tuesday’s semifinals, whilst IR Iran, Vietnam, Kazakhstan and Chinese Taipei have a final opportunity in Monday’s repechage.

total medals

china 25
japan 12
kuwait 3:banana:
korea 12
kazakastan 4

handball game again

korea - syria
15 - 15

remmber its LIVE on asia 1

Lebanon got one bronze as well in Shooting

korea - syria
16 - 15

Lebanon got one bronze as well in Shooting

great i didnot know they play shooting oh well its a game and its a sport :)

handball LIVE

korea - syria
18 - 17

there taking a rest now before playing second half