Doha gets ready for Olympic bid

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/images/October2007/25applig.jpg

DOHA • Four Qatari children will wake up to a rather different morning trip to school from their usual one – for looking down on them all around the city are hundreds of huge images of themselves.

The young sporting heroes of the future are playing a starring role on more than 1,000 banners and billboards in Doha as part of an advertising campaign in English and Arabic to raise awareness of the city’s 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid.

The banners are also promoting the launch event of the Doha 2016 Bid, which will take place on the Corniche on October 25.

The children, all of whom take part in multi-sports activities in the Aspire Academy programmes, were earmarked at a young age for their exceptional sporting talent and feature alongside the Qatari international archer Nada Zeidan.

Hassan Ali Bin Ali, the Chairman of the Doha 2016 Bid Committee, said: “These children are our sports stars of the future. If Doha is honoured to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016, it is children like these who will be competing against the rest of the world.”

“It is for children like these that we have built our vision of the Games. Our Bid will be focused on our shared future – the world’s youth – particularly those disadvantaged either economically or through disability. It will engage and inspire them so that Arab youth better understand the wider world and the youth of the rest of the world gain a true picture of Arab culture and hospitality.”


WoW

Qatar reaping benefits of 2006 Asian Games

hmmm sounds good :)

Hyderabad • Qatar has begun reaping the dividends of having hosted the Asian Games last December. The state, always a force to reckon with in athletics, has also begun making its presence in other games.

The 2006 Asian Games has worked wonders for Qatar, just as the 1986 Asian Games and 1988 Olympics did for South Korea and the 1990 Asian Games for China.

Apart from athletics, where Qatar picked up five medals - one gold and two each of silver and bronze - they also made the semi-finals of football and are medal contenders in volleyball. They also performed creditably in handball.

The prized gold medal came in men’s 100 metres, where Samuel Adelbare Francis clocked 10.10 seconds to better the old meet record of 10.18 set by Talal Mansoor, a former multi-gold medallist the Asian Games in 1986 and also a Indoor World championship medallist in 60 metres.

Francis believes that Mansoor is the inspiration for all young Qatari athletes. “When you have a world class athlete from your country he becomes an example for others to follow,”Francis said through an interpreter.

“I grew up watching Talal and wanted to win medals for Qatar. The Doha Asian Games have given us the right kind of exposure to compete in international meets. It is very important to know how to train the right way and prepare for big meets.”

Mansoor, incidentally, was also involved in training Qatari athletes, and at the Doha Asian Games he was also associated with kabaddi competition as a technical official.

Qatar’s other successful athletes at these Military Games were Esaama Mohammad (silver in 110 metres hurdles), Khaled Al Suwaidi (silver in shot put), Rashid Shafi Al Dossare (bronze in discus) and Ahmed Hassan Musa (bronze in decathlon).

Qatar made a mark in some team games, too.

The football team reached the semi-finals after surprising fancied teams like Brazil, China and Ireland but came a cropper against Egypt.

After being drubbed 0-5 by Egypt, a dejected Qatari skipper, Ahmed Ali, said “We do not have too many clubs in Qatar. So there are very few opportunities for young players to make a mark. But the Asian Games has given us look at how the other top countries train and perform. We are happy to see that two Asian countries reached the football semi-finals.”

It’s been an eye opener for Qatar as they are in medal contention in volleyball after having reached the four-team super league alongside China, South Korea and hosts India.

“Volleyball is big in Europe so it is a matter of great pride that the countries fighting for the medals here are from Asia.

Qatar prepared hard for the Doha Asian Games and this team for the Military World Games has nine players from that side,” said coach Atiq Shadad Al Ghanim.

“We must prepare for the Gulf games and we hope to win a medal there. Iran are a very strong team but now with this confidence, we can aim for a good performance.”

Handball was one arena where they narrowly missed out on being in medal reckoning, losing to Latvia in the group league.

“This is not a very popular sport in Asia but we have been working hard. The team has a Croatian coach (Fero Mohosevic) and this is a result of the popularity that sports has gained after the Asian Games,” reveals handball captain Nasser Saad Al Saad.

“We lost to a more experienced team from Latvia, who regularly play in Baltic league but in a few years we are sure work hard and win a medal.”

Apart from the traditional sports like diving, table tennis and badminton, the Chinese and Koreans have become a threat in field hockey as well, something that was unthinkable two decades ago.

Now Qatar is proving the same by making a mark at the Military World Games in disciplines they were never really known for.

cant wait for the party on the courniech this thursday, I'm sure it will be one spectacular event not to miss!

i hope the put it live on TV i really whant to see this !!!!!!!!!!!!

today Qtel sent SMS's to almost everybody i know including myself advertising the event this weekend.............hope a good number of people will show up.........

i hope to i dont whant to be alone !!!!

today Qtel sent SMS's to almost everybody i know including myself advertising the event this weekend.............hope a good number of people will show up.........

yes it did arrive and i'm certainly going.

i hope the put it live on TV i really whant to see this !!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure they will, they put up a huge antenna like thingy thats close to five stories high in the courniech, so they must be broadcasting it

are you sure its an antenna ??? i hope so btw keep in mind its tommorrow and it on 6 pm :) and i hope to see at along with the celebration and fireworks wo hoo !!!!

it sure seems like that. I'll try to take some pics and videos of the celebrations. They started setting up the lightings and everything about 2 days ago. I wounder what would happen to poor oryx when the new logo and other stuff is revealed..

you know they should keep orry since its a memory that shouldent be forgoten how meny years has it been since he was there 3-5 !!!!!! btw i think the olympics mascot needs to be put right next to orry :D and all other events mascots lol :D its fun and cool

minor update, some kind of egg-shaped inflatable domes have been set out across the cournich, its about a floor high.

egg shaped inflatable domes ? maybe lights inside so it becomes illosionious ? a floor high !!!!!!!!!! do you know what they are ??? i hope so because i dont !

where is the exact location on the corniche?

YES

The Corniche

TODAY 25th october 2007 !

The large celebratory event !

Opened by shiek Tamim himself !

6PM Qatar Time GMT+3 !

The Logo Will Be Unvield !

History is made !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

4 Hours To Go !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2.3 hours left

so exciting and its just too much pressure ok breath breath BREATH !!!!!!!

is this the dome you guys are talking about ???

looks like an alien residents live there !!!

http://img523.imageshack.us/img523/1041/domeslikehelllf3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

yup thats the one

Qatar to build Paralympics stadium


Doha: Qatar will build the world's most advanced Paralympics stadium as part of its plans to secure the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, an official said on Saturday.

The city is gearing up for the bid that will be formally announced on October 25 during a day-long celebration on the Doha corniche. Shaikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, heir apparent, will unveil the logo and the official website of Doha 2016. If awarded the Games, Qatar would become the first Arab country to host the Olympic flame, said Hassan Ali Bin Ali, Chairman of Doha 2016 Olympic bid.


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"As part of the 2016 bid and as part of the country's commitment to people with special needs, Doha is planning to build the world's most sophisticated Paralympic sport stadium and facilities," the official said addressing a press conference at the Shafallah Centre, an institute assisting children with special needs.

"We have the capability to host the 2016 Olympics, having a world class sporting infrastructure. Two of our stadiums were acknowledged to be the best in the world in a global contest sponsored by the IOC."

Doha is among the seven cities whose bids for the 2016 Olympics were officially accepted on September 14 by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/9002/2016ti2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img155.imageshack.us/img155/8405/2016346754nu6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

10 mins to gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

where can i watch the unveiling online? can anybody help me? :S

The spetacular event has ended the logo has been released and history was made.........

The Qatar National Olympic Committee is proud to present...........

The Doha 2016 Logo


:banana::banana::banana::banana:


http://www.gamesbids.com/english/images/article/doha2016.gif

Its supposed to represent a flower and the flwer says in arabic Doha 2016

Congrats

Spirit of Doha in vibrant strokes

http://www.thepeninsulaqatar.com/images/October2007/1dohasar.jpg


doha • The Al Dahma – the ‘Flower of the Spring’ – was chosen to represent the vital and energetic spirit of the season. The Al Dahma’s natural habitat in the sands of the desert draws a parallel with the vibrant and colourful life flourishing in Qatar.

The calligraphy strokes making the words ‘Doha 2016’ are a unique manipulation of the traditional organic Henna patterns that women use to adorn their hands and arms as part of social and holiday celebrations. The logo has strokes of green and maroon in it. The dynamic interaction between the Arabic calligraphy and the English type is an interpretation of modernity.

The logo is a welcoming message for a truly energetic and celebratory 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha. The logo was created by students at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar.The Doha 2016 tagline, which is just as impressive as the logo, consists of two words ‘Celebrating Change’, which when roughly translated means ‘rejoicing friendship and honouring the achievements of the athletes’.

Hi guys i would like to inform you that the website is now fully on check it at

www.doha2016.org its lovley !!!

Guys for arabic speakers here is a seperated news paper from the Qatari news paper alrayah it also has PICTURES for who ever is interested :)

http://www.raya.com/mritems/streams/2007/10/25/2_293862_1_212.pdf

Thank you Shiek Tamim !!!!! (and his daughter)

http://www.raya.com/mritems/images/2007/10/25/2_293859_1_209.jpg

^^ I thought its his SON! hahah

eh lol no its a girl !

the way the logo was shown !!!! it was cool :banana:

http://www.qatarolympics.org/mritems/images/2007/10/26/1_59551_1_14.jpg

http://www.qatarolympics.org/mritems/images/2007/10/26/1_59562_1_14.jpg

btw where are the pictures doha2016 ??????? ;);););)

hahahhaha.................i told youuuuuuuuuuu doha2016

what did you tell him ???? whats going on !

about whatever i wrote down in the introduce yourself.....that you dont fotget.......you already started..........hehehe

looooooooooool thats always true but i am eager to see thouse pictures !!!!! becuz the party was so good but emagine what this guy wrote on gamesbids.com !!! his name is orry the oryx and i thought he supported doha's bid thats until i saw his 1 full page of complaintes !!!!

i hope you guys update the Doha 2016 olympic bid page in wikipedia that i made its HARD YOU KNOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dont you guys think that the opening wisnt even close to be on par with the celebrations they did for the asian games at the courniech. I mean come on, it's the olympics, they definatly should have put better effort into it. It was sadly a very dissapointing celebration

dont you guys think that the opening wisnt even close to be on par with the celebrations they did for the asian games at the courniech. I mean come on, it's the olympics, they definatly should have put better effort into it. It was sadly a very dissapointing celebration

This celebration was just to announce the BID for running for the 2016 Olympiad. The Asian Games was different--WE actually got it (thats why it was more grandeur)>> If we get it, I can gurantee nonstop parties 24/7.

looooooool thats right it was only the launch of the BID and LOGO but i cant seem to remmember the asinan games caelebration sadly :( but i atlest remmember the event itsself :D

Doha Launches Bid For 2016 Olympics And Paralympics
October 26, 2007 19:04 PM
By Lena Liew


DOHA (Qatar), Oct 26 (Bernama) -- Qatar unveiled the logo, slogan and official website of its ambitious `Doha 2016' bid to host the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics last night in a gala ceremony on the waterfront of the Corniche (esplanade) of Doha Bay.

Promising a `Celebration of Change' with a logo of stylised Arabic calligraphy depicting the phrase `Doha 2016' in the form of the desert spring flower known locally as `Aldahma', the launch cements the tiny but wealthy Gulf state's seriousness in seeing through the announcement of its ambition at the close of the Doha Asian Games last December.

"The Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic bid can change Qatar. It can change this entire region. It can change the world. Now that will indeed be a change to celebrate," said bid committee chairman Hassan Ali bin Ali.

"Hosting the Games in Doha in 2016 would bring the Olympic flame to the Arabic-speaking world for the first time, extending the Olympic ideals to millions of new hearts and minds. Never has the Olympic family had an opportunity to make such a difference to the peoples of the world," he told gathered dignitaries led by the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and his brother Sheikh Joaan.

Hassan is one of Qatar's top businessmen and founder of the government-supported Shafallah Centre for children with special needs.

Outlining a focus on youth, he added: "It is among the young peoples of this region and the rest of the world that we must nourish the core values of respect, tolerance, understanding and hope - and through these ideals offer them an opportunity to effect great and positive changes to the world that they will inherit."

A fire-tipped arrow fired by Doha 2016 ambassador Nada Zeidan, Qatar's multi-talented sporting heroine who represents the country in archery and rally racing, launched a curtain of mist on which the bid's logo was projected, followed by a fireworks display.

The logo was designed by students of the local campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.

The climax capped a 45-minute long song, dance and light show which incorporated acrobatics by the Arrayal troupe who performed at the opening of the European League Championship.

Labourers standing shoulder to shoulder with uniform-clad schoolchildren and picnicking families along the promenade and grassy areas of Corniche were among the tens of thousands of locals and expatriates who responded to an open call sent out by the organisers via SMS in the run-up to the event.

Malaysian geoscientist Sonny Lim was one example, but he was, however, rather disappointed.

"It wasn't really exciting because we were not allowed to get near enough to watch the actual ceremony and the fireworks display was very short," commented the former resident of Kuala Lumpur who came to Doha just seven months ago.

Mother-of-two Farsha Verignac shared the same sentiments.

"The crowd was there but the festivity was nothing much. The show was supposed to start at 6pm, so we were there already at 5pm. But the fireworks started only at 8pm, and it was a very short display," she said.

Residents of far flung industrial townships outside Doha were brought in by the bus-loads to join those gathered around three projector screens playing silent visuals of the ceremony alongside cultural performances by small groups brought in from various countries including Spain, whose capital Madrid is also bidding for the 2016 Olympics & Paralympics.

Besides Doha and Madrid, Chicago, Tokyo, Rio de Janeiro, Prague and the Azerbaijan capital Baku are the other applicant cities which submitted their applications upon the deadline of Sept 13.

The International Olympic Council's (IOC) Executive Board is scheduled to announce its shortlist of candidate cities in June 2008, ahead of the Beijing 2008 Olympics from Aug 8-24.

The final vote for the host of the 2016 Olympics & Paralympics takes place at the 121st IOC Session and Olympic Congress in Copenhagen, Denmark on Oct 2, 2009.

-- BERNAMA

was there any mention of what the mascot could be?

no sadly i hope the make a figure next to orry :D lol

Dreams..... for 2016

http://img511.imageshack.us/img511/3594/17339624482a1a4fbf5bjs9.jpg

http://img465.imageshack.us/img465/1328/17581085824f8de8e819rl9.jpg

come and see it now

who is interested to know more: visit
http://www.saudi-directory.net

what the TOOT was that !

plz vote for your choice here :D

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=544116

What will happen if before 2016, any country has invented an alternative energy source which will replace oil...
Will Qatar and other gulf countries still enjoying their rich life in 2016?

the answer is yep since Qatar already found the alternative energy source which is natural gas and the north field which is the largest non associated gas feild in the world will finish its gas in 200 years ! so 2207 would be an accurate date ?! :banana:

the answer is yep since Qatar already found the alternative energy source which is natural gas and the north field will finish its gas in 200 years !

great...I think Qatar is a very lucky country! :)

this was a great move !

:banana: New committee set up to spread green message through sports :banana:

A PERMANENT forum has been formed to strengthen Doha’s bid for the 2016 Olympics by using sports as a tool to promote awareness about the environment, a spokesman said yesterday.
Consisting of seven members, the new body – Sports and Environment Committee (SEC) – will work under the Qatar National Olympic Committee (QNOC).
It is headed by Saif Ali al-Hajari, who is also the chairman of the Friends Of Environment Centre (FEC).
“Environment has become a third pillar, after culture and sports in any progressive country’s portfolio. We don’t aim to be just another committee, but take concrete action, which is highlighted in our first year’s slogan ‘From Plan to Action,” said al-Hajri, while announcing the formation of the committee to media yesterday.
During the meeting, al-Hajari also announced that December 1, will be observed as a Sports and Environment Day in Qatar every year.
“We will be organising seminars, workshops, conferences, school trips and whatever it takes to make sure that every one in Qatar understands the local and international environmental dynamics,” he said.
The other members of the committee are: vice chairman, Mohammed al-Sayrafi (FEC), Yousuf al-Kazim (FEC), Tariq Saeed al-Abdallah (QNOC), Ghanim Ali al-Kuwari (QNOC), Yousuf Ibrahim al-Hamar (Supreme Council for Environment and Natural Reserves) and Ismail Mohamed Hasan.
The logo of the SEC is the internationally recognised Olympic sign placed under a lime-green palm tree branch.
“While the palm tree will be the symbol of environment, it also represents the Qatari climate and culture,” explained al-Hajari.
Also speaking on the occasion was al-Sayrafi, who said: “Our aim is not only to ensure that sport activities are not causing any environmental degradation, but also to involve the businesses and clubs and communities in order to sustain that plan.”
According to him, the committee is hoping to organise a regional environmental conference, inviting all the sports clubs and federations.
“From here on, we are calling every one in Qatar, from schools to shopping centres, exhibition places to media, to extend co-operation with us in order to ‘change the behaviour’ of all,” he added.
Asked whether SEC was a requirement of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) for Qatar’s bid of Olympic 2016, Dr al-Hajari said: “Yes, all candidate cities need to showcase their environmental track record to IOC in order to be able to make a presentation.”
“Officials of IOC will also make random inspections including talking to locals and residents during the Olympic bid. We need every one in Qatar to be environmentally aware and help us achieve 2016,” he said.
Yousuf al-Hamar of SCENR emphasised on the environmentally-friendly venues during the selection process, while highlighting the role sports clubs and their managements can play in minimising the use of resources, recycling of water and waste management.
“We will also be coming up with a lot of activities pertaining to monitoring of air, water and soil in Qatar,” said al-Hamar.

qatar voted for olympics?????

i hope they get it!!!

best of luck!

that will be amazinb

great...I think Qatar is a very lucky country! :)

Qatar blessed, In hundreds years ago Qatar was exporting pearls to all world parts todays Qatar provide the world of Oil & Gas and will keep do this till next 300 years also Qatar start earning billions of it is investment in the world countries.

yes i think even when oil ends in 2035 and the gas in about 2200 Qatar will saty active since i hope another resource is found :D somthing like BioFuel or BioDiesel both made from plants :D and since we are in the desert i hope that we focus in Solar Energy soon :D

:banana: Doha’s bid to host 2016 Games gets GCC backing :banana:

THE Heads of State of all the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries have pledged their unanimous support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid at their summit which concluded in Doha on Tuesday.
In a statement at the end of the summit, the Heads of State of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Saudi Arabia and the UAE announced: “The Summit declares its support for Doha’s bid to host the 2016 Games, as well as its support as part of the international community in making this wish come true.”
The summit also backed the development of an international laboratory, to be based in Doha, which would assist in the fight against doping in sport - and agreed that all GCC countries should sign the international agreement issued by Unesco on anti-doping in sport.
Following the announcement, the Doha 2016 Bid Committee chairman Hassan Ali bin Ali, sent a message of thanks to the GCC heads of state.
Commenting on the GCC pledge, he stated that this is an enormous boost to the Doha 2016 Bid team. “Our aim is to build support for the Bid all across the Arab world and beyond,” he said.
“We are extremely grateful for this unprecedented support for our bid, which will be a bid that the whole Arab world can be proud of,” the official maintained.
Ali bin Ali observed that already, the Olympic Movement is demonstrating its power to unite an entire region in its support.
“Awarding Doha the 2016 Games would unleash the full power of the Olympic Movement and peaceful sporting competition to create understanding, hope and change that could then unite this entire region with the rest of the world,” he added.

more support :D we already got the support of the OCA president :D

:banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:

FULL STATEMENT BY MR HASSAN ALI BIN ALI TO THE LEADERS OF THE GCC


Hassan Ali Bin Ali sends his heartfelt thanks to all the Heads of State of the GCC for their support of Doha’s bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in the closing session of the 28th GCC Summit, which concluded yesterday in Doha.

This support from the leaders of the GCC is yet another demonstration that all the leaders and peoples of the GCC are together as one – and cooperating to support each other across the region.

Qatar’s success in hosting large sporting events of this nature is also a success for the entire GCC – as well as for all Arabic countries. All Arabic people should feel part of the Doha 2016 Bid, and so support Qatar in the international community. Here in the GCC we are one family, and every achievement in any one of our countries is an achievement for all of them.

This support from the GCC countries for Doha 2016 makes Doha even more optimistic that it can win its Bid.

Mr Hassan Ali Bin Ali also pledges that Qatar will place all its resources and organising experience at the service of the GCC, especially as Qatar has expertise and experience in organising major championships and large international events in every aspect of sport. We also have state-of-the-art sports stadiums and buildings of the highest standards here in Qatar. Qatar’s support and development for sport enjoys the special patronage of His Highness the Amir and His Highness The Heir Apparent, which is why Qatar is now so well positioned internationally in this area.

Mr Hassan would like also to acknowledge all the sporting achievements of the GCC, particularly their success in hosting sports events. We are successful because, in all of our countries, we do things well and we do them correctly.

Mr Hassan hopes that the next stage will be more successful – and another achievement for the GCC.

waaa wena noticia ahhhh

2016 sta muy cerk wena notas

^^ is that english ?

Doha is ready to Get it !

Just a collection of Pic's i like and remind me that we can do it :D

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4935/20901354380b52303f65kz4.jpg

http://img404.imageshack.us/img404/7815/17756445057e7c4cd763qn0.jpg

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http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/7739/4290303237e5d2c7a64jp9.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/1594/aspire1yd2.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/7094/citycenterdp7.jpg

http://img143.imageshack.us/img143/6000/cooljd9.jpg

http://img146.imageshack.us/img146/2001/westbay1fp2.jpg

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http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/880/13093544910b4ec991cfyu0.jpg

http://img147.imageshack.us/img147/2056/3835351260bc6ab6825uf7.jpg

http://img145.imageshack.us/img145/7172/qatervy8.jpg

The End

Hope you liked them :D i will be looking for more pictures soon inshallah (With Gods Willing):cheers:

Nice collection!!

The pics are nice!

thanks guys :D i just whanted to cheer up this thread with pictures that remind us that anything is everything :D

Qatar signs agreement to establish anti-doping laboratory

http://img515.imageshack.us/img515/4765/161493114dr5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

DOHA (Alaa Titawe), December 9, 2007—HE Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, QOC Secretary General, held a press conference on Saturday, December 9 at QOC Headquarters with Mr. David Homan, General Manager of World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) on the occasion of signing an agreement between Qatar and WADA to establish a regional Anti-Doping Laboratory for GCC Countries in Doha, in response to the directions of GCC Countries' Leaders during their last meet recently concluded in Doha.



Sheikh Saoud said that the agreement with WADA is an initial step of executing the directions of GCC Countries' Leaders to choose Qatar as centre of anti-doping laboratory, and then a permanent agreement signed later.



The laboratory will start to collect symptoms from all GCC Countries to be tested in Doha in cooperation with WADA and Qatar who will also receive symptoms from all over the world.



In an answer to the question about contribution of Qatar's successful strategy in sport domain represented in founding the global sport fund, celebrating the school Olympic day and establishing anti-doping laboratory, to success of Qatar in winning the right of bids to host 2016 Olympic Games, Sheikh Saoud said that the wise leadership of Qatar has developed this strategy long time ago as it include taking care of education, Health, sport and economic investment.



QOC Secretary General also mentioned that the Qatari Companies allocate 2.5 of their yearly income to sport and education and the foundation of the Global Sport Fund and celebrating the school Olympic day are Qatari ideas ensuring that all these factors will support Qatar's Bid documents to host 2016 Olympic Games.


Mr. David Homan, WADA General Manager, expressed his happiness in establishing the laboratory in Qatar and praised the support and concern of GCC Countries' leaders ensuring that it is the first time for him to see such great concern from Leaders during their regional meet to establish an anti-doping Laboratory.


:banana:

i promised i will bring the second part and here it is :D

2nd Collection :D :cheers:

http://img70.imageshack.us/img70/2544/qatarairwaysa380gf5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img510.imageshack.us/img510/2230/aspiretowervz8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/7315/49723005682d9712eb4oal3.jpg

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http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1361/1324265062_a1e4bc0c91_o.jpg

the above ones are from the threads and they are some of the best ones here :D

here are some more from Flickr :D

http://img260.imageshack.us/img260/6533/1593282596c07627cf1tm9.jpg

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/28/324797557204a2a3f46lf6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/7321/96yy3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/3903/302602213891449d7edkw5.jpg

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http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/2849/324769657cb30b038f6lr9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/897/qatarlb7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/7229/208457937409477838b7dv5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/1175/aspiretowerbh4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/9016/beverlymn1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img128.imageshack.us/img128/9673/1419862410232dc9856aus7.jpg

http://img407.imageshack.us/img407/1610/5132429037e3b114027dy9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/7937/3990812512cb115b50als7.jpg

:banana::banana::banana:ENJOY:banana::banana::banana:

Doha 2016 bid chairman attends annual EOC general assembly

:banana:

VALENCIA: Spain's King Juan Carlos officially opened the 36th European Olympic Committee’s (EOC) General Assembly in Valencia in the last week of November where Hassan Ali bin Ali, chairman of the Doha 2016 Bid Committee, was present.
Hassan was present alongside key players from all 49 National Olympic Committees, delegates of various organising committees, representatives from all the 2016 applicant cities, president Rogge and other IOC members.
The European Olympic Committee members consist of over 40 European National Olympic Committees from around Europe. The EOC was founded upon the premise of spreading throughout Europe the Olympic ideals as defined by the IOC Charter, in close collaboration with the International Olympic Committee, the Association of National Olympic Committees and the Olympic Associations of the other continents.
The EOC seeks to further the education of youth by sport in a spirit of better comprehension, friendship and respect for the environment.
Under the leadership of EOC president Patrick Hickey, the assembly meetings will include reports by representatives of the EOC Commissions, as well as reports from the Organising Committees of the upcoming Olympic Games including Beijing 2008, Vancouver 2010, London 2012 and Sochi 2014.
Hassan said: "The sessions with the organising committees will be very valuable to the Doha 2016 bid committee because through their reports and question and answer sessions, we will learn about the challenges faced by organising committees and begin thinking about how best our bid could address these as we further develop our plans."
"These sessions are also a great opportunity for us to gain a better understanding of the needs of the National Olympic Committees and therefore respond to these as best as we can in the final Games Plan that we submit to the IOC," he added.
Another important item on the agenda of the Assembly is the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) which aims to encourage greater youth participation in sport and simultaneously tackle the growing problem of childhood obesity.
The organising committees of EYOF 2007, EYOF 2009 and EYOF 2011 will provide progress reports and an announcement will be made regarding candidates for EYOF 2013.
"We are looking forward to the reports by the EYOF Committees and details of their preparations for engaging young people in sport because this is an ambition we also share in Qatar.
“Indeed, our vision for the 2016 Games in Doha focuses on the world's youth and seeks to inspire them to better understand each other's cultures while also encouraging greater participation in sport through the development of state-of-the-art regional centres for elite sport in a part of the world currently underserved by such facilities," said Hassan.

beutiful pics qatar son... u proved it.. same pics from various angles makes it wonderfull...

thank you thats what i tried to do i tried to mix sports with the state's status in construction and cool places :D

On track

http://img412.imageshack.us/img412/5260/1emirblahc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Doha • The population of Qatar has demonstrated overwhelming support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid.

In a recent opinion poll in Qatar, conducted by the independent international polling company Ipsos, 86 percent of people expressed their support for the Doha 2016 Bid.

When asked, 95 percent of respondents said that they were aware that Qatar was bidding to host the 2016 Games — and more than 80 percent said they had an interest in sports and the Olympic Games in general.

More than 1,000 people were interviewed for the poll, which took place in November. Those questioned included both men and women, of all ages from 18 upwards. The survey covered both Qatari citizens as well as expatriates working in Qatar.

When asked about Qatar’s sporting history to date, 81 percent said they felt proud of it. The vast majority of respondents said they believed that bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Qatar would benefit the country as a whole.

More than 75 percent said that they thought the Games would bring more tourists to Qatar, while 60 percent thought more jobs and more international exposure for Qatar would result from hosting the Games. Other benefits mentioned included more infrastructure, both sporting and transport, and more hotels being built.

More than 50 percent said they would attend some or all of the Games if they were hosted in Doha — and 55 percent said they would be happy to volunteer to help organise the Olympics in Doha.

Commenting on the results, Hassan Ali bin Ali, the Chairman of the Doha 2016 Bid Committee, said: “I am thrilled and touched by these huge levels of support for the Doha 2016 Bid. This level of awareness and support is evidence of the Qatari population’s desire to welcome the Olympic world to an Arab country for the first time and to showcase our country’s progress.

“The results of this poll have shown how the power of peaceful sport can unite our entire country — Qataris and expatriates. So awarding Doha the 2016 Games would unleash the full power of the Olympic Movement and peaceful sporting competition to create understanding, hope and change that could then unite this entire region with the rest of the world. Doha 2016 could really be an Olympic and Paralympic Games that change the world. And, as our Bid messages says, that would indeed be a reason to ‘celebrate change’.”

Poll shows overwhelming support in Qatar for Doha 2016 Olympic Bid

http://img265.imageshack.us/img265/7983/15958615wq2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Doha, December 12, 2007 – The population of Qatar has demonstrated overwhelming support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid.

In a recent opinion poll in Qatar, conducted by the independent international polling company Ipsos, 86% of people expressed their support for the Doha 2016 Bid.

When asked, 95% of respondents said that they were aware that Qatar was bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 – and more than 80% of them also said they had an interest in sports and the Olympic Games in general.

More than 1,000 people were interviewed for the poll, which took place in November. Those questioned included both men and women, of all ages from 18 upwards. The survey covered both Qatari citizens as well as proportionate numbers of expatriates working in Qatar.

When asked about their feelings about Qatar’s sporting history to date, 81% said they felt proud of it. However, this pride in Qatar sports was also expressed by all the different groups of expatriates.

The vast majority of respondents said they believed that bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Qatar would benefit the country as a whole. More than 75% said that they thought the Games would bring more tourists to Qatar, while almost 60% thought more jobs and more international exposure for Qatar would result from hosting the Games. Other key benefits mentioned included more infrastructure – both sporting and transport – and more hotels being built.

More than 50% of the people polled said they would attend some or all of the Games if they were hosted in Doha – and 55% of respondents said they would be happy to volunteer to help organise the Olympics in Doha.

Commenting on the results, Mr. Hassan Ali Bin Ali, Chairman of the Doha 2016 Bid Committee, said: “I am thrilled and touched by these huge levels of support for the Doha 2016 Bid.”

Mr Hassan added: “This level of awareness and support for our Bid is evidence of the Qatari population’s desire to welcome the Olympic world to an Arab country for the first time and to showcase our country’s progress.”

“The results of this poll have shown how the power of peaceful sport can unite our entire country, both native Qataris and expatriates. Recently, at the summit of GCC Heads of State in Doha, we saw how Doha 2016 can unite an entire region, with all the GCC leaders expressing their support and the support of all their citizens for our Bid.”

“So awarding Doha the 2016 Games would unleash the full power of the Olympic Movement and peaceful sporting competition to create understanding, hope and change that could then unite this entire region with the rest of the world.”

“Doha 2016 could really be an Olympic and Paralympic Games that change the world. And, as our Bid message says, that would indeed be a reason to ‘celebrate change’.”

3rd Collection :banana:

This collection is mostly for Aspire Zone :cheers:

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/6393/doha2016lo2.gif (http://imageshack.us)

http://img505.imageshack.us/img505/1714/3212085414b2ccd2a40wm2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6127/122051577db90d94c14qo4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/7686/158722813015b942dfcabi4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/1466/329028151d8ee5d8f49zk7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/884/aspirepinksi5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/6093/mosqueiw2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8960/blueaspirefk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/8960/blueaspirefk5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/2899/restaurentaspirevu5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/1074/bluetorcheq8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img135.imageshack.us/img135/8716/torchyzb2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9665/5ringszz9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/1041/aquaticslb0.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

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http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8218/footballan3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img89.imageshack.us/img89/9272/khalifa1aw1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/3659/khalifa2si9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img264.imageshack.us/img264/8162/khalifa3ud5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img187.imageshack.us/img187/8223/khalifa5ni7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

End of Collection 3 ENJOY :D

very good

Today in the peninsula :D

Olympic games a chance to highlight Arab culture

http://img526.imageshack.us/img526/1049/4jafiarhf2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
Dr. Saif Ali Al-Hajari addressing Qatar University students.


Doha • Vice Chairman of Qatar Foundation, Dr. Saif Ali Al Hajari yesterday said if Doha wins the bid to hold 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games, it would help change perceptions about the Arab world and culture.

"The Games and the years leading up to them will show how Doha has maintained the traditional desert culture of generosity and hospitality, whilst today's Doha embraces the modern world in which we live, with its first class business, technological and sports facilities," he said.

Al Hajari was addressing over 200 students at Qatar University, calling for support to the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid for the country to succeed in successfully hosting the largest sporting event in the world.

Asked whether all of the proposed changes in sporting infrastructure would still go ahead as planned if Doha loses the bid to host the Olympics, Al Hajari said all sports infrastructure projects currently in the pipeline will be implemented regardless of IOC's decision in 2009.

He added that the Doha 2016 Olympic Games Plan will establish a new state-of-the-art regional centre for youth sports in a part of the world currently lacking such facilities.

He also noted that there are also plans to build the world's most advanced Paralympic stadium.

Chairman of Doha 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee visits Qatar TV

http://www.qatarolympics.org/mritems/images/2007/10/16/1_59248_1_14.jpg

Doha, December 14, 2007 (Jamal Mohammed Ahmed) – Doha 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee Chairman - Hassan Ali Bin Ali visited Qatar TV where he confirmed about the objectives and program of the seven nominated cities.


According to the current stage he said that will allow promotions for Doha 2016 Olympic Bid only inside Qatar.


This situation will continue until June 2008, where a vote process will be conducted, as some cities should be selected, while others will be excluded.


Mr. Hassan said: the deadline for final vote to select the winner city for hosting the 2016 Olympic and Paralympics Summer Games will be in October 2009 in Copenhagen.


Hassan Ali Bin Ali met Mr. Mohammed Abdurrahman Al- Kuwari, director of Qatar TV at the TV headquarters.


During the meeting Mr. Hassan conveyed thanks to Qatar TV and praised their role on supporting Doha 2016 Olympic Games Bid by offering a live broadcast for unveiling Doha 2016 Olympic Games Bid's logo and launching the website, which occurred under high patronage of HH Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al–Thani, Heir Apparent and President of Qatar Olympic Committee in October, 2007.


Mr. Mohammed Abdurrahman Al- Kuwari, Director of Qatar TV, welcomed Hassan Ali Bin Ali's visit and confirmed that Qatar TV and its directors, technicians, journalist and presenters are ready to co-operate with Doha 2016 Olympic Games Bid Committee in any promotion or advertisement process required for the campaign.

Belgian cycling legend Merckx extends support to Doha 2016 Olympic bid

CYCLING legend Eddy Merckx has given his wholehearted support to Doha's bid to host the Olympic Games in 2016.
Speaking on a recent visit to Doha, exactly 35 years to the day since he set the hour record in Mexico City in 1972, Merckx said: "Doha 2016 is a wonderful opportunity to bring peace to the Middle East; to bring people together through sport; to let athletes do the talking."
Merckx, 62, from Belgium, is still regarded as the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time, setting several world cycling records, some of which remain unbroken to this day.
A regular visitor to Doha, Merckx enthuses about Qatar's attitude to sport, especially youngsters.
"Qatar as a country pushes for sport. No other country in the world is doing what Qatar is doing for sport —- especially for kids."
"As a child, sport is a great school of life. It shows you that just talent is not enough -- you also have to work very hard. If you're a lawyer, you stay a lawyer for life. As a sportsman or sportswomen, you have to start every season at the beginning again. It's hard to become the best, but it's even more difficult to stay the best year after year."
Merckx's links with Qatar started after he was invited to the country to organise a cycling stage race for the Middle East. "In 2001, His Highness Sheikh Tamim wanted to organise a cycling race after seeing the Tour de France. I came to Doha to meet Sheikh Tamim, then travelled around Qatar to see whether the race was feasible. It certainly was, so we then organised the first stage race in the Middle East." Merckx also supports Doha's plan to hold the Games outside the summer months: "I was riding in the 1964 Tokyo Games, which were held in October. In Doha, in October, the weather conditions are absolutely perfect for sport."
"Doha is an excellent venue for high-level sport. Lots of cycling teams want to come to Doha to train. It's a great place to train at the beginning of the season, has great weather, no big time difference."
He added: "Of course, there are also incredible sports facilities in Doha. Aspire is very impressive — there's nothing like this in any other country."
Merckx also had fond memories of the Doha 2006 Asian Games: "The whole event was excellent: great organisation, perfect security, spectacular opening ceremony."
Merckx concluded by paying tribute to the Doha 2016 bid chairman: "I have known Hassan Ali Bin Ali for some years and I know that therefore the Doha 2016 Bid is 100 percent committed to developing Qatari champions. He is especially focused on young people. Sport is great for kids —it's simply the best medicine."

^^ thats old news about 2 weeks old if i remmember correctly....

but still even if he supports it it dosent mean we have more chances !

^^ahem, even if its too old (which i knew), you know that atleast a great foreigner is supporting it, thats the reason i posted it. In which you know a great person who is supporting any other cities?

Any idea when the venue concept and venue list will be released?

^^ not anytime near but as you guys probably know the venues will be built what ever the IOC decides in 2009

^^ not anytime near but as you guys probably know the venues will be built what ever the IOC decides in 2009


well the applicant file is due early Feb, so they venue plan/concept is prob. drawn up already since all other infrastructure depends on this plan.

but i am guessing they will show it to the IOC in Feb first as you said and then the public will see it

but i am guessing they will show it to the IOC in Feb first as you said and then the public will see it

Chicago and Rio have pretty much revealed their venue plans. Doha should release some of its plans before presenting the applicant file.

^^well it's the case, Doha already has a Sports City (built for the Asian Games 2006 - competition gathering 12,000+ athletes from 45 countries), this area includes the largest sports dome in the world (Aspire dome) as well as Khalifa stadium (50,000 seats) which will be expanded:

http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=487504
You should also look at the previous page, QatarSon posted loads of pics.


Right now under construction:

- "The Wall" stadium - a uniquely design stadium, nicknamed "the laptop":
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=394193

- Al Shaqab stud - Olympic-standard equine facilities development:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=392043


Proposed - and will be built whatever the IOC decision:

- World's most advanced Paralympics Stadium:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=548029


There are loads of existing world-class venues (Al Sadd sports club, Al Rayyan sports club) plus rumors such as this one:
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=453336

Doha def has some good existing venues. But the sports concept , location and plans for new venues is also very important.

Rumour has it that an Olympic City would be builts on the outskirts of Doha, perhaps in the Dukan highway, or near the North of the country. An olympic city in Al-Khor would be perfect.

^^ BUT the Olympics will be hosted in Doha only :D but on the outskirts of Doha ??? isnt that Aspire Zone ?! its already outside main doha lol but i wish that rumour is true. plus i forgot Aspire Zone (Sport City) will be expanded for the Doha 2016 Bid, Massilia ! the paralympics stadium is U/C ! since they said construction starts in 2007 and ends inshallah in 2009 :D

Today from Gulf Times

Doha 2016 Bid takes centre stage

http://img172.imageshack.us/img172/8223/21924981248uy2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

CONFIDENT...Doha 2016 Bid Chairman Hassan Ali bin Ali


Qatar is going full steam ahead in its bid to get the 2016 Olympics to Doha.
In this exclusive interview with
Gulf Times Sports Editor Anil John, Bid Chairman Hassan Ali bin Ali talks about the country’s chances in what is definitely going to be a tough fight


Q: There is great expectation in Qatar and in the Arab world about Doha’s 2016 bid. What would you say to the people? How confident are you about the bid?
A: Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha in 2016 would bring the Olympic flame to the Arabic-speaking world for the first time, extending the Olympic ideals tomns of new hearts and minds.
We are quite confident that Doha will stage the greatest Olympic Games the world has ever seen if we are given the opportunity by the International Olympic Committee.

Q: Has the message gone across to schools in Qatar? After all, schoolchildren will be young adults by the time we reach 2016 and most excited about the Olympics if it comes to Qatar.
A: The youth of Qatar are key supporters of Doha 2016 and we have been to several schools in Doha to talk to the students and to listen to their feedback regarding Doha hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games. We have also visited the Universities in Qatar and spoken with students to convey our vision of bringing the Games to Doha in 2016.
Several primary schools, secondary schools and colleges have pledged their support for the Bid and we look forward to working them in the near future. A lot of enthusiasm has been generated amongst the students throughout Doha.

Q: What do people in general outside the Arab world feel about the bid? During your various tours to Europe and elsewhere and during your interaction with officials and common people did you notice that there is awareness about the 2016 bid and that Doha is in the running?
A: Certainly everyone within the Olympic Family is well aware that we are bidding for the 2016 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games. With Qatar’s sporting pedigree, athletes and spectators will experience the ultimate Games of the future.
In Doha, we have a world class sporting infrastructure. Our stadiums were acknowledged to be among the best in the world in a global contest organised by the International Association for Sports Leisure Facilities and sponsored by the IOC.

Q: It’s the International Olympic Committee’s stated goal that they want the Olympic movement to catch on in places like the Arab world, Africa etc. Therefore do you think that Doha has an advantage over other cities bidding for the Games? After all it was on this basis that Qatar got to host the Asian Games in 2006.
A: Awarding Doha the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games would unleash the power of the Olympic Movement and sport to create understanding, hope and change that could unite the entire region with the rest of the world.
Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha in 2016 would bring the Olympic flame to the Arabic-speaking world for the first time, extending the Olympic ideals tomns of new hearts and minds.
Never has the Olympic Family had an opportunity to make such a difference to the peoples of the world. We hosted the 2006 Asian Games (the world’s second largest multi-sport, multi-day event after the Olympic Games), putting on what has been called the best, the biggest, the most widely reported, and the highest standard Asian Games ever. Partly as a result of this success, Qatar has been selected to host the 2010 IAAF World Indoor Games and the AFC 2011 Asian Football Cup.

Q: Obviously the bid has the support of HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani. But how closely are they involved in the whole process? Do they actually keep track of the day-to-day progress?
A: Our visionary Emir, His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani, has set the country on a monumental modernisation programme to become a role model for economic and social transformation in the region.
His Highness The Emir, His Highness the Heir Apparent and Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser bin Abdullah al-Misnad are all informed of the progress of the bid as a whole.
We work closely with a variety of government stakeholders across the board to ensure that Doha will host the greatest Games the world has ever seen.

Q: The Asian Games was a path-breaking event in the history of Qatar in many ways. And now if Doha gets the Olympics, how would it impact the country in general? Obviously if Qatar wins the bid, there will be a lot of activity in the country leading up to the event. But so far there has been no official announcement about the kind of facilities that Qatar plans to build. Can you throw some light on that?
A: Our Doha 2016 Olympic Games Plan will establish a new state-of-the-art regional centre for sport in a part of the world currently underserved by such facilities.
As part of our Games Plan, we will obviously build upon our already first class infrastructure. In addition, new venues will be developed including a new state-of-the-art Paralympic stadium for disabled athletes at the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs.
I am the Centre’s Chairman and so, in addition to organising a first class Olympic Games, I am deeply committed to providing the finest Paralympic Games that the Olympic Movement has ever seen. Doha 2016 could really be an event to change the world.

Q: What would you say to people who say that Qatar is punching above its weight and that it’s only bidding for the Games to grab attention and publicity?
A: The interest in sport is increasing rapidly in this region and the population of Qatar has recently demonstrated overwhelming support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid.
In a recent opinion poll in Qatar, conducted by the independent international polling company Ipsos, 86% of people expressed their support for the Doha 2016 Bid. When asked, 95% of the respondents said that they were aware that Qatar was bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 – and more than 80% of them also said they had an interest in sports and the Olympic Games in general. When asked about their feelings about Qatar’s sporting history to date, 81% said they felt proud of it.
I was thrilled recently that, at a summit here in Doha, the Heads of State of all the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries pledged their unanimous support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid. This was an enormous boost to the Doha 2016 Bid team and yet another demonstration that all the leaders and peoples of the GCC are together as one – and cooperating to support each other across the region.

Q: You of course also run the Shaffalah Center for special children, which is one of the top facilities of such a kind. Could you enlighten us on that in detail?
A: The Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs was established by the effort and under the authority of the chairperson of the Supreme Council of Family Affairs, Her Highness Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser bin Abdullah al-Misnad. Her Highness Sheikha Mozah believes in the vitality and importance of the family and the child’s role in society, particularly those children with special needs. At the beginning in 1998, the Shafallah Center could only receive a limited number of children due to lack of facilities and capacity at that time.
Knowing these limitations the board of directors of Shafallah put into action, as a priority, plans to move to a much larger building and facility to accommodate more children with special needs and increase the services that could be offered to them.
The new Shafallah Center has been designed and constructed in accordance with the highest standards and latest developments in the field of children with special needs.

I'm smelling an Olympics in the Gulf. I do hope Qatar will host the 2016 Olympiad since Doha is just an A330 away from Cebu here in the Philippines.

allah ysma menij asiana :D

And what about the cultural gap? I just think about women in swimming suits or bare midriff tops and panties playing beach volleyball. Isn´t that a problem in Qatar??

^^ It isn't.. If you saw the Doha 2006 Asian Games, you would see that it was not a problem :)

Exactly ! Halawala is correct in the asian games it was no probelm beach volleyball, Swimming and all the other ones. btw 2 days ago there was a beach Volleyball tournment in the intercontinential hotel doha and it proved as a huge success :D hope it clears it ArtHabitat3 btw i think its not related in culture at all if you mean heritage and triditions we have a huge amount of it in Qatar but Sports could excuse anything even the law that says any person who has an Israeli stamp on it whont be allowed in the country, well... it turns out Qatar said they will allow them to enter Qatar for doha 2016 olympics, so it might be the first arab country to do such thing ?!

Thanks, i didn´t thought you are going to answer my question so openly. Cause its clear that some countrys in the arab world would have a problem to deal with this issue.

from the official website

POLL SHOWS OVERWHELMING SUPPORT IN QATAR FOR DOHA 2016 OLYMPIC BID

The population of Qatar has demonstrated overwhelming support for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid.

In a recent opinion poll in Qatar, conducted by the independent international polling company Ipsos, 86% of people expressed their support for the Doha 2016 Bid.

When asked, 95% of respondents said that they were aware that Qatar was bidding to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016 – and more than 80% of them also said they had an interest in sports and the Olympic Games in general.

More than 1,000 people were interviewed for the poll, which took place in November. Those questioned included both men and women, of all ages from 18 upwards. The survey covered both Qatari citizens as well as proportionate numbers of expatriates working in Qatar.

When asked about their feelings about Qatar’s sporting history to date, 81% said they felt proud of it. However, this pride in Qatar sports was also expressed by all the different groups of expatriates.

The vast majority of respondents said they believed that bringing the Olympic and Paralympic Games to Qatar would benefit the country as a whole. More than 75% said that they thought the Games would bring more tourists to Qatar, while almost 60% thought more jobs and more international exposure for Qatar would result from hosting the Games. Other key benefits mentioned included more infrastructure – both sporting and transport – and more hotels being built.

More than 50% of the people polled said they would attend some or all of the Games if they were hosted in Doha – and 55% of respondents said they would be happy to volunteer to help organise the Olympics in Doha.

Commenting on the results, Mr Hassan Ali Bin Ali, the Chairman of the Doha 2016 Bid Committee, said: “I am thrilled and touched by these huge levels of support for the Doha 2016 Bid.”

Mr Hassan added: “This level of awareness and support for our Bid is evidence of the Qatari population’s desire to welcome the Olympic world to an Arab country for the first time and to showcase our country’s progress.”

“The results of this poll have shown how the power of peaceful sport can unite our entire country, both native Qataris and expatriates. Recently, at the summit of GCC Heads of State in Doha, we saw how Doha 2016 can unite an entire region, with all the GCC leaders expressing their support and the support of all their citizens for our Bid.”

“So awarding Doha the 2016 Games would unleash the full power of the Olympic Movement and peaceful sporting competition to create understanding, hope and change that could then unite this entire region with the rest of the world.”

“Doha 2016 could really be an Olympic and Paralympic Games that change the world. And, as our Bid messages says, that would indeed be a reason to ‘celebrate change’.”


good more support:banana:

its old but useLESS ! Qataris have a population of 200000 - 300000 out of a world wide population of.... what 5-8 billion ?!?! so that support was useless....

btw 86% ? then the 14% must be kicked out of the country if you dont like it....

^^Its not old!!! If you hate support, then you can help decline in the winning of Doha.

^^Its not old!!! If you hate support, then you can help decline in the winning of Doha.


i just said that a small support poll between residents wouldnt help SheesH !

yes it is old :D

Qatar to have 10,000 new hotel rooms in three years

QATAR is expected to have 10,000 new hotel rooms and 3,600 tourist apartments by 2010, according to industry sources. Of these, nearly 7,000 hotel rooms and nearly 3,000 apartment rooms will be added this year.
The new properties which will open this year are: The W (340-rooms), Marriott Courtyard (200 rooms), Marriott Renaissance (257), Grand Hyatt (300), Hilton (320), Shangri-La (272), Rotana (204) and Holiday Hotel Villa and Residence (754).
Properties under construction include the Taj Hotel at the Golf Club, Shaza Kempinski, three hotels in Pearl Qatar, Dubai Towers and the St Regis Doha Hotel.
Dubai Towers will be a mixed-use development of 80 floors. It will offer retail, state-of-the-art offices, a five-star hotel and apartments.
It will be operated by Dubai based Jumeirah International, according to information available with Qatar Tourism and Exhibitions Authority.
A top hotel executive said the capacity increase could impact revenue by 2010 unless Qatar got the right to host the Olympics Games in 2016.
Hotel tariffs in the country peaked in 2006 when the Asian Games were held. Hotel room rents went up by an average of 5% to 15% from 2005 to 2006, the executive said.
However, he added that Qatar had lined up several global events for the coming years. They include the World Petroleum Congress and International Athletic Federation meeting. These could keep the industry busy.
“Generally, the market is looking good (for hoteliers). Despite the massive increase in capacity, hotels are likely to hold the tariff at current levels,” he said.
The business for each hotel, however, would depend on the product, including pricing, customer service and facilities, he added.
Across the Middle East, a massive $3.63tn is being invested in the travel and tourism industry in the form of 600 new hotels which will mean 650,000 new room and lead to the creation of 1.5mn new jobs.
Research by Fast Future and Global Futures and Foresight has revealed a sizeable amount of this will also be invested in leisure projects, cruise lines, tourism promotion and aviation developments across the region.
The World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) has estimated an additional 1.5mn jobs will be created in the region’s hospitality sector over the next 10 years.
While the UAE is estimated to add 97 new hotels over a period of three years, Kuwait is to add 19 hotels and 4,115 new rooms; Bahrain 15 hotels and 3,615 rooms; and Oman four hotels and 766 rooms.
Half-year results from the HotelBenchmark Survey by Deloitte showed the Middle East hotel market continued to enjoy double-digit growth for the fourth consecutive year in 2007 – with revenue per available room, or revPAR, increasing 13.7%.
During the first six months of 2007, revPAR increased about QR62, fuelled by improvements in average room rates. At about QR397, the Middle East continues to boast the highest revPAR of any region – above Asia Pacific and Europe at the equivalent of QR356 and QR367, respectively.
According to consultancy HVS International, on the other hand, the average room rate in the Middle East increased by 11% to QR510.

I received this from Qatar Son

Doha launches bid for hosting 2016 Olympics
Published: Wednesday, 16 January, 2008, 01:55 AM Doha Time

http://www.gulf-times.com/mritems/images/2008/1/15/2_196093_1_248.jpg

Sports Reporter
Hassan Ali bin Ali (second left), chairman of the 2016 Doha Bid Committee, addressing a media gathering along with his bid teammates Hamad al-Baker (right), Laila Hussain and Farid al-Abdullah (left), at the InterContinental Hotel in Doha yesterday
QATAR has not left any stone unturned for the Olympic Candidate City selection in June. The Doha 2016 application file submitted on Monday to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has promised more than what one can dream about and certainly puts the capital as one of the frontrunners for the 2016 Olympics and Paralympics Games bid.
What gives Doha the edge is the fact that no Arab nation has ever organised the mega event before.
‘The Games would create understanding, hope and change that could unite the entire region with the rest of the world’ is the trump card that Qatar has used in the bid application.
That’s not all. Qatar is already a sporting powerhouse in the region and has world-class sporting facilities already in place with more than 70% of the venues ready. And what’s going to give an added advantage is the compact plan and state-of-the-art venues.
Around 85% of the athletes will compete within a 7.5km radius from the Olympic Village. The farthest venue is only 30km away.
The oil and gas-rich country had taken the 2006 Asian Games to a new level and the standards set then will be hard to match in coming years. The 100% financial backing and full support from the government can’t go unnoticed.
“We have full support from the Emir of Qatar HH Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and the members of the government. Without them we couldn’t have put forward such a concrete proposal,” said the chairman of the Doha 2016 bid committee, Hassan Ali bin Ali, during a press briefing yesterday.
The budget for the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games will be structured in principle on a 60/40 basis of public and private financing. Besides the funding from the IOC and the government of Qatar, Doha 2016 estimates that it can generate $784mn through an innovative commercial programme. From sponsorship $450mn, ticket sales $259mn, licensing $15mn and others $60mn. The total Games budget will be well over $2.5bn.
The bid application also mentions 86% support from the people in Doha and of the region backing the Games, based on an independent poll.
“We have managed to gain full support from the Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) heads of the state during the recently concluded GCC Summit in Doha,” reveals Ali bin Ali.
If you think the influx of the large number of delegates and Games enthusiasts into the country would be a cause of worry; then you are wrong. Doha will surpass the minimum accommodation bar of 60,000 rooms and has guaranteed 82,852 rooms, of which 87% will be within 10km of the Games centre.
Doha has 17,964 hotel rooms as of now, primarily in four and five-star and deluxe apartment hotel categories. A total of 22 new hotels with 4,854 rooms will open by this summer, in addition to 2,319 delux apartments, hotel rooms and 1,212 expected this year. The Doha Port will also house a minimum of 6,000 visitors in luxury cruise ships.
“Accommodation will not be a problem. We have made sure to stay well above the required 60,000 rooms norm set by the IOC. This was always a part of the Qatar infrastructure development plan and so we can fulfil those requirements with ease,” assured Ali bin Ali.
Qatar has already invested heavily to develop transportation infrastructure. The new Doha International Airport to be completed by 2009 has a capacity of 50mn passengers annually with the most modern paraphernalia. By the Games, the metro /light rail network with tram lines and feeder bus network will be in place as per the bid proposal.
What should be an added advantage in Doha’s favour would be the carbon-neutral Games with zero waste goal focusing on water reclamation, conservation, renewable resources, international sustainable design competition.
The Games will also promote social progress throughout the region creating programmes to foster mutual respect and gender equality; support for Paralympics athletes.
However, the region’s volatility could be the only deterrent factor to Qatar’s aspirations. The West has been sceptical of the Arab nations and to convince them on the security aspect would be a big ask. Ali bin Ali rubbished such claims and said, “We have never faced any security concerns in the past and are confident of conducting the Games smoothly. The successful completion of the Asian Games in 2006 is a prime example.”
Qatar has proposed October 14-30 as the dates for the Games in 2016 which is quite contrary to the dates of the Games held in the past.
“Lot of people have asked me the question why not early? But we have gone through the climatic condition of this region in the last 10 years and have come to the conclusion that these dates were ideal for the athletes to give their best.
“We have also sifted through the records and found that dates are not at all a problem for the IOC as there are cases when the Games have been hosted in November-December.”
Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman al-Thani, secretary-general of the Qatar Olympic Committee, was also pleased with the way things have gone so far.
“I received a lot of calls from the IOC members after the submission of the applicant file. I request all the people in Qatar to rally behind our Games bid.

originally found by QS-3

WooooooooHooooooooooooo

hold on tight here it comes !

http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/9295/definitionvs5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2630/thedohaolympicvillagemaiz6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/407/thedoha2016mediacitymasqe6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img266.imageshack.us/img266/8523/dohaolympicparkataspirede9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/5543/qatarclubclusterxn4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/2661/alrayyanclubclusterjn9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img261.imageshack.us/img261/1474/lusailclusterpu2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/2189/algharrafaclubclusterie5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/1318/dohainternationalexhibixv1.jpg

[URL=http://imageshack.us]http://img182.imageshack.us/img182/5630/westbaylagoonclusterbf5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img258.imageshack.us/img258/8665/existingvenuespermanenthv1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/4792/venuestobebuiltpermaneneb8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Some Locations by using google earth :D

Media City located right next to Qatar University
http://img253.imageshack.us/img253/3930/goodleearthdoha2016mediyg3.png (http://imageshack.us)

Aspire sport city (Current) is in green, Doha Olympic park (future) is in red.
http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1469/goodleearthdohaolympicpfl7.png (http://imageshack.us)

Doha Olympic Village area
http://img443.imageshack.us/img443/8796/googleearthdohaolympicvzi4.png (http://imageshack.us)

Doha Light Rail Routes and Stations
http://img262.imageshack.us/img262/6439/googleearthdohalightraitt4.png (http://imageshack.us)

The Information will be in the next PM...

gr8 plans ahead... inshallah we'll have 2016 olympics in doha

Are there any temporary competition venues proposed for Doha?

Great Job Q-son and Aaron :D

does that mean no light rail unless we won the bid :P

Yeah Good Job! I just noticed the post!! Excllent work!

From Q-son

ok Aaron i will help you when i am out of my brig :bash:

Information :)

Media
A full-service “Media City”

Doha 2016 plans a “Media City” in cooperation with Qatar University, on a 72-hectare site, including a Media Village accommodating up to 22,000 people, directly adjacent to the Main Media Centre (MMC) and only an average of 14 km from all competition venues.

It will be an integrated complex within a single secure perimeter so that media can proceed directly from their accommodation to the Main Media Centre, no more than 500m away.

This concept creates a superb, efficient working and living environment for the media and the OCOG, minimising journey times.

The “Media City” will be served by its own Metro station and is located on multiple transport corridors. With less complexity, the Media Transport System can also function more effectively and provide optimum coverage between venues.

One of the region’s leading architects has created the master plan and conceptual designs for the media complex, which will also include restaurants, entertainment, recreational, service and fitness centres.

As with the Olympic Village, Doha 2016 has initiated an international design competition to establish new standards in sustainable construction, in collaboration with the Qatar Supreme Council for the Environment, emphasising the use of solar power, water conservation, sustainable materials and design, and ultra efficient intelligent systems.

After the Games the Media Village will be converted into housing for Qatar University students, as well as creating apartments for sale or lease. These will be ideal for employees in the new Research and Development Centre that will be created out of the broadcast centre, as well as for other residential users.

Venues
A strong venue plan aligned with IOC guiding principles

Doha 2016 has used several key factors in selecting venues, including in order of importance:

*Provide world-class competition conditions for the athletes;
*Use existing venues to their highest potential whenever possible;
*Create new venues only when they have sustainable, long-term legacy use and can be developed to world-class standards using environmentally sustainable materials and systems;
*Create temporary venues where no legacy use is sustainable;
*Provide proximity to the Olympic Village; and
*Use clusters to create a dynamic, exciting environment and to maximise operational efficiencies.
Doha 2016 has focused on the use of its already existing, world-class venues, so that the athletes will compete in the very best facilities.

More than 70% of the proposed venues already exist and have served as sites for major international competitions, particularly for the Doha 2006 Asian Games. The Khalifa Stadium and the Aspire Dome recently received silver medals from the IOC at the 20th International Association for Sports and Leisure Facilities (IAKS) Congress.

Doha 2016 also proposes to use four planned venues for the Games, all of which are part of the Qatar Olympic Committee’s Master Plan for Venue Development. In line with its mission, “to become a leading nation at bringing the world together through sport”, the QOC plans to create a new swimming centre at Al-Gharaffa Club, a new slalom facility for canoe/kayak at Aspire, and the new Qatar Dome at the Qatar Club.

Each of these facilities will meet the long-term needs of the community and further advance sport in Doha. A new multi-purpose Sports Complex is being built at the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs and will be used as the boxing venue for the Games.

The new slalom facility will be the focal point for an “extreme” sports complex and water park being created as part of the Aspire Sports City. The new international swimming centre will be an adaptable structure that normally seats 4,000 spectators but is designed to be easily modified with additional temporary seating for the Games and then down-sized again in legacy mode.

The Qatar Dome will be the first indoor international football facility in the Middle East. It will create year-round opportunities for major matches, while at the same time providing much needed exhibition space and community space, integrated into the city centre.

Each of the new venues has a significant long-term use and will create opportunities for the people of Doha, the region and the sporting world. Doha 2016 is also conducting design competitions for use of sustainable materials and environmentally-sound energy solutions and also water conservation solutions in all new construction of competition and non-competition venues.

In all, six venues will be temporary, including the cycling venues and the beach volleyball venue. In each case, the venue is developed around world-class competition facilities. Doha 2016 also proposes temporary adaptations for many of the permanent facilities to increase spectator capacity for the Games while the permanent venues are sized appropriately for legacy use.

The Doha 2016 plan is very compact. All of the venues are in close proximity to the Olympic Village. In fact, 85% of athletes will compete within a 7.5 km radius from the Village. An additional 7% are within a 10 km radius.

Doha 2016 also took care in its planning to ensure that all venues were positioned along major transport corridors.

Doha Olympic Village
The Olympic Village: a model for the future

The Doha 2016 Olympic Village will provide a comfortable, efficient and inspirational haven for the athletes, and, as a legacy, will establish a new standard for “future living” and serve as much-needed housing.

The Village is a 67-hectare development, designed to meet every need of the athletes and delegations, while also providing Doha with much needed mixed-use development near the city centre. All athletes, officials and coaches will live together in a single Olympic Village, housing 18,000 people, with the furthest venue only 30 km away.

Doha 2016 has worked with the Qatar Urban Planning and Development Authority to identify a Village site that offers a central location on a major transport corridor. One of the region’s leading architects has created plans that fulfil Olympic, Paralympic and legacy requirements. One of the world’s leading developers, Qatari Diar, will finance and construct the Village at a cost of USD 1.94 billion.

Formed in the shape of a dove, the Doha Olympic Village features extensive pedestrian walkways, peaceful and expansive green space and meandering canals. At the heart of the Doha Olympic Village will be an iconic International Plaza. Athletes will live in new, upscale housing of 1-3 bedroom apartments, clustered in “intelligent buildings of the future”.

Doha 2016 has initiated an international design competition to establish new standards in sustainable construction for both the Olympic and Media Villages, emphasising the use of solar power, water conservation techniques and sustainable materials. Doha 2016 is also partnering with Q-Tel telecommunications to provide state-of-the-art internet and telecom networks in every apartment.

The main dining hall, the transportation mall and recreational amenities are no more than a leisurely 10-minute walk from any accommodation.

A comprehensive “Media City”

Doha 2016 has collaborated with Qatar University to create the “Media City” [link to media city page], featuring the Main Media Centre and the innovative, immediately adjacent Media Village. The university’s long-term plans call for meeting, public assembly, recreation, and mixed-use development on 72 hectares of their land, and the university has guaranteed financing of the project at a cost of USD 213 million.

The Main Media Centre will unite the 45,000m2 Main Press Centre (MPC), the 75,000 m2 International Broadcast Centre (IBC) and a Combined Services Centre (CSC) with 8,500 m2 of common facilities, including a full restaurant.

The MPC features all required facilities, including separate work spaces for writers and photographers, bookable space, interview rooms, press operations work spaces, and internal dining facilities.

The IBC will be a free-span structure of at least 18 m height, which will be available to the OBS at least one year prior to the Games.

The university has already established clear legacy use of these facilities. The MPC and CSC will become a meeting and exhibition centre, while the IBC will become research and development space for many of the university’s innovative programmes, such as its Sustainable Development Programme

Hotels
Accommodation for a new world-class destination

Doha is establishing itself as a world-class business centre. Qatar’s economy has grown at a rate of 15% over the past five years and this growth is expected to continue.

Qatar’s strategy is to diversify its economic base beyond hydrocarbons and into multiple industry sectors. The Qatar Master Plan to 2025 envisions Qatar “as the academic centre, sports centre, and major tourist centre of the Middle East.”

To achieve this vision, Doha is expanding its hotel and accommodations infrastructure dramatically and rapidly.

An example of the extraordinary projects in Qatar is the Lusail Development, which will cover 35 square kilometres and accommodate more than 200,000 new residents and includes more than 17 new hotels.

Doha has 17,964 rooms available today, primarily in the 4- and 5-star hotels and deluxe apartment-hotel categories. The Doha Port also has fully-equipped berths for cruise ships to accommodate a minimum of 6,000 additional visitors at the highest international standards.

According to the Qatar Tourism Authority, a total of 22 new hotels will open by the summer of 2008 alone, including nine five-star hotels with 2,370 rooms and thirteen 4-star hotels with 2,454 rooms.

By the summer of 2009, 25% of planned 5-star hotel rooms and 39% of planned 4-star hotel rooms will be complete and open to guests, and by 2011, 12,027 new rooms in 4-star and 5-star categories will be completed.

In all, 48 new 5-star hotels with 13,151 rooms, 41 new 4-star hotels with 8,829 rooms, and nine 3-star hotels with 2001 rooms are planned and will be ready well in advance of 2016, regardless of the IOC’s selection of a Host City for 2016. Additionally, 10,452 apartment-hotel rooms are planned.

The Media Village at Qatar University will accommodate 18,000 media and 4,000 members of the Games workforce. Of the 82,852 rooms that will ready before 2016, 87% will be located within 10 km of the Games Centre.

from Q-son

Transport
Doha is preparing for 2016 arrivals

Qatar is investing billions of dollars on a wide range of major transport-related infrastructure projects over the next 20 years.

To improve transport infrastructure and mobility in Doha, the Qatar Public Works Authority (QPWA) is already undertaking numerous roads-related projects, including a number of multilane motorways and extensions to existing ring roads.

To improve public transport networks, the QPWA, in conjunction with PTV Germany has developed a comprehensive three-level concept for public transport, the Qatar Master Transportation Plan to 2026.

A Metro/LRT network, BRT/tram lines and a dense network of feeder buses will provide smooth access, high-frequency services and high travel speeds within the greater Doha area, and offer an attractive and effective alternative to private car transport.

The Metro light rail network will be developed in three stages, extending 140 km in Doha when completed. This rail network will link all major Olympic sites, including the new international airport and port, the hotel, shopping and residential districts as well as all of the major sports clusters, the Olympic Village and the “Media City”.

Construction of phase one (85 km) of the rail network will begin in 2009 and will be completed by late 2015, in time for thorough testing prior to the Games.

By late 2009, the first phase of the New Doha International Airport (NDIA) will be open, at a cost of USD 9.5 billion. NDIA will be the biggest airport in the Middle East, with two parallel runways and an initial capacity of 24 million passengers per year and more than 50 million per year when completed.

Doha is also expanding and improving its existing port facilities to make them world-class for both passenger ships and cargo vessels. The existing port has modern and convenient docking facilities for as many as eight full-sized luxury cruise ships. International shipping will transfer to the new Doha Port, which is under construction to the south of the city. Thus, many guests will be able to travel to Doha by ship, if they choose.

Dates
An Ideal Time in a Distinctive Environment

Doha 2016 is proposing to hold the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games on Friday 14 October 2016, with the competitions taking place between 15-30 October. The Closing Ceremony will take place on Sunday 30 October.

It proposes to hold the Paralympic Games between 12-23 November, dates which the International Paralympic Committee has indicated it will accept.

These dates provide ideal conditions for the celebration of the Games. The recorded maximum temperatures during this period have been consistent over the past 10 years. The temperatures and humidity levels will be conducive to the optimum performance of the athletes and the comfort of the spectators.

The average temperature at 3pm during the proposed dates for the Games is 31.4˚C over the past 10 years. The average temperature at 9pm is 27.4˚C over the past 10 years. The average humidity has been 49.3% at 3pm and 68.5% at 9pm.

The proposed Games period precedes the high tourist season in Doha, so hotels in Doha will be able to provide all the required rooms without significantly impacting their normal operations – and room prices will reflect off-peak season rates. The reduced traffic in the city will also make Games transport operations easier.

All of the major higher-education institutions will be in session and Doha 2016 has initiated cooperative agreements with many of them to provide internships and other programmes for their students, who will form a core group of Games volunteers. All other schools and colleges will reschedule their calendars to allow students and staff to attend each day of the Games.

While the proposed dates fall outside the dates listed in the Applicant City Questionnaire, there are ample precedents for dates outside of these parameters, such as Sydney 2000 (15 September to 1 October), Seoul 1988 (17 September to 2 October), Mexico City 1968 (12 October to 27 October), Tokyo 1964 (10 October to 24 October) and Melbourne 1956 (22 November to 8 December).

from gulf times

Olympic heroine urges more Qatari girls to take up sport

Published: Saturday, 19 January, 2008, 02:16 AM Doha Time
By Noimot Olayiwola
THE Qatari bid ambassador for 2016 Olympics, Nada Zeidan, has urged girls to enter the sports field, saying the “terrain is getting better by the day”.
Zeidan, an archer and the first woman car racer in the Middle East, said it would be great to see more Qatari women getting involved in sports, especially in areas like car racing where she believes a door has been opened.
“I had to work very hard to get to this point, but it is relatively easier for young ladies now to enter the field and make a name,” she said.
“I want them to achieve more feats in other sporting events and they should not lose the chance that I have created for them”.
Zeidan said Qatari girls should look at the support provided by the government by investing millions in sports infrastructure and setting up state-of-the-art facilities.
“They need to encourage themselves, come out and do the country proud,” she said.
Zeidan started archery in 2001 with her first competition in Busan in 2002, but came into the limelight when she participated in a major car rally in 2004.
Speaking of challenges as a woman car racing pioneer, she said: “I understand that our culture is dominated by men, where men’s decisions reign supreme, but for me I do what I think is acceptable.
“I strongly believe that people’s mentality will change. Anything new is always first rejected by people, but no matter how late, it will be accepted if it is good,” she said.
“I faced a lot of problems in the beginning, especially from men, who find it strange to see a woman racing cars and thus found it difficult to accept me into the fold.
“They have made several attempts to frustrate me, but I stood my ground and to this, I owe my father and brother a great deal for their encouragement and support at all times.
“They keep nudging me on despite the challenges and criticisms from some quarters.
“Only eight female athletes from Islamic countries participated in different games during my first competition in Busan, where I was an archer and the others were shooters. But in 2006, the number increased and they took part in different games like gymnastics, swimming and judo.”
On sportswear for Muslim women, Zeidan said: “I don’t know why there is such hullabaloo about this issue. I think it is up to the athlete to decide what she wants to wear, and not for anybody else.”
She stated that to make things easier for her and other Muslim woman athletes, she has come up with the idea of a sportswear, which is made according to the Islamic rules and at the same time not deviating too much from the sporting body’s specifications. “It is a nice and simple suit for ladies who use the veil as well as those who do not.”
She said she had participated in many women’s conferences where discussions about swimsuits were held, adding that examples were drawn from Jordan and Lebanon, whose athletes wear the usual swimwear.

I got this from qatar son, however, at the end of the article it says by 2009!! is that even possible or is it just a mistake ?



Light Rail System For Doha 2016 Games
Source: (GamesBids.com)

Qatar is planning a 140 km light rail system in Doha to help ease traffic congestion ahead of its 2016 Summer Olympic Games bid, reports the Peninsula newspaper.

Qatar will spend billions of dollars to revamp its transport infrastructure whether or not its bid is successful.

Construction of the light rail system’s first 85 km is scheduled to begin in 2009 for completion in 2015, said the newspaper, adding that the rail network will link all major Olympic venues and villages, including the new Doha International Airport, Doha Port and the hotel district.

Doha is expected to complete the first phase of a two-line $4.4 billion metro extending about 70 km by September 2009.

yg9B8eAt3bg

beautiful video

As you must know, Qatar Son 333 was banned from SkyscraperCity for 2 weeks for an unknown reason and that I was told by him to post the rest of the information such as the temporary venues and accommodations into this thread. The information is in a private message. I was going to do it right now, but since this page is too long, I would wait until the 19th page is created. If I copied/pasted this information into this page, it would be longer that it is now. Anyway, in order to copy-paste the rest of the info into this thread, I have to quote the first half of the Olympic info.

^^ thank you for your attention Jim now since i am back i could do it myself :D

here here !

http://img211.imageshack.us/img211/1759/venuestobebuilttemporarmr1.jpg

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/6008/existingaccommodationfw7.jpg

http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9846/plannedaccommodationoq4.jpg

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/7846/existingtransportinfrusdl3.jpg

http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/4816/existingtransportinfrusqx9.jpg
http://img409.imageshack.us/img409/1576/existingtransportinfrusih7.jpg

^^Good to see that the information is all in one page, sir. But there is one more page you forgot:
http://img251.imageshack.us/img251/199/plannedtransportinfrustvu4.jpg
http://img267.imageshack.us/img267/6551/plannedtransportinfrustqi9.jpg

I was at city center today and there were these bunch of American dudes, they asked me to take a photo of them with their camera so I said sure.

They asked me if I was Qatari and then started to talk about how they were so impressed with Qatar and how the media back home didn't show them the truth.

They were army guys and decided to stop at Qatar for a rest.

They then started to talk about the Olympics saying that they're all routing for Qatar and hope that we get it.
Made me so happy to hear that. ^_^

Where are the rest of the venues? (that means the venues other than the existing venues whose permanent works are required, newly-built permanent venues, and the temporary venues)

OMG ^^ your right i forgot the exsisting venues :S !!!!

ok ok no panic here here:

http://img120.imageshack.us/img120/6976/exi1sb3.jpg
http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/6014/exi2ny1.jpg

Fulfilling Qatar’s Vision for the Future

The Doha 2016 concept aligns perfectly with the Qatar Olympic
Committee’s (QOC) Master Plan for Venue Development, which
describes the long-term need to build a range of facilities for the
development of sport and the benefit of society. This plan includes
four new facilities that will serve as Olympic Venues. It also includes
smaller competition, training, and support facilities at Doha’s
numerous sports clubs, which will also be used for the Games.

The QOC’s stated mission is "to become a leading nation at
bringing the world together through sport," and the Doha 2016
concept supports this mission. All new permanent venues in the
Doha 2016 concept support and benefit the long-term plan. Where
permanent venues are not needed, Doha 2016 will use temporary
venues for the Games.

New competition and non-competition facilities also align with
Doha’s long-term development strategies as expressed by the
Qatar Urban Planning and Development Authority in the Qatar
Master Plan to 2025, the mission of which is:
“To implement a physical development plan that promotes
the vision for Qatar as the academic centre, sports centre,
and major tourist centre of the Middle East.”
The Qatar Master Plan also proposes to develop high-quality
housing and mixed-use infrastructure along major mass transit
corridors. The Doha 2016 plan serves each of the plan’s goals,
particularly through the development of the Olympic Village, the
Media Village and new sports facilities. The “Media City” complex
also supports Qatar University’s expansion plans.

The plan for the “Media City” ensures a positive Games-time
experience for an important Olympic client. The combined MMC
and Media Village significantly improves travel times for the media,
as more than 90% of the media will reside within easy walking
distance of the MMC, which is an average of only 14 km from the
competition venues. The MMC will provide for all the media’s
working needs.

The Doha 2016 concept places the venues on primary transportation
corridors served by major highways and immediately adjacent to
planned routes of the Doha Metro. The transport requirements for
the Games match precisely with the ongoing programme to improve
the road network and develop mass transit.

From the Application File

A Commitment to Legacy and Sustainability

Doha 2016 also proposes to use four planned venues for the
Games, all of which are part of the Qatar Olympic Committee’s
Master Plan for Venue Development. In line with its mission,
“to become a leading nation at bringing the world together
through sport,” The QOC plans to create a new swimming centre
at Al-Gharaffa Club, a new slalom facility for canoe/kayak at Aspire,
and the new Qatar Dome at the Qatar Club. Each of these facilities
will meet the long-term needs of the community and further
advance sport in Doha. The new multi-purpose Sports Complex is
being built at the Shafallah Center for Children with Special Needs
and will be used as the boxing venue for the Games.

The new slalom facility will be the focal point for an “extreme”
sports complex and water park being created as part of the Aspire
Sports City. The new international swimming centre will be an
adaptable structure that normally seats 4,000 spectators but is
designed to be easily modified with additional temporary seating
for the Games and then down-sized again in legacy mode. The
Qatar Dome will be the first indoor international football facility in
the Middle East. It will create year-round opportunities for major
matches, while at the same time providing much needed exhibition
space and community space, integrated into the city centre.

Each of the new venues has a significant long-term use and will
create opportunities for the people of Doha, the region and the
sporting world. Doha 2016 is also conducting design competitions
for use of sustainable materials and environmentally-sound
energy solutions and also water conservation solutions in all new
construction of competition and non-competition venues.

In all, six venues will be temporary, including the cycling venues
and the beach volleyball venue. In each case, the venue is
developed around world-class competition facilities. Doha 2016
also proposes temporary adaptations for many of the permanent
facilities to increase spectator capacity for the Games while the
permanent venues are sized appropriately for legacy use.

Doha 2016 Unveils Youth Ambassador Programme

The Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games bid committee has unveiled its Youth Ambassador Programme aimed at schools in Doha, according to Qatar publications.

At a press conference in Doha, Dr. Saif Ali Al Hajari, Environment Director of Doha 2016 said, “we at Doha 2016 bid committee call upon students from various schools in Doha to be 2016 Doha Olympics bid ambassadors.

“As part of the program we invited schools in Qatar to select three students to be our ambassadors. They would act as promoting our bid for 2016 Olympics. They can highlight the role of Qatar and help build awareness about 2016 Olympics”.

He added that about 500 schools in Qatar would be invited to send their students, including schools for special needs.

The bid committee has already selected four students from different schools and the rest will be selected by March 3, and all of them will undergo special orientation sessions in the coming months.

Al Hajari said “students who can speak more than one language, drawn from different nationalities will serve as official bid representatives. These students will be trained here in Doha and if the need arises we will send them abroad for further training”.

Speaking about the program Hassan Ali bin Ali, Chairman of Doha 2016 said, “leveraging our youth through the Youth Ambassadors Programme will enable us to unleash the power of the Olympic Movement and sport to create understanding, hope and change that could unit the entire region with the rest of the world”.

لدوحة تنتظر قرار استضافة أولمبياد 2016

اجتماع مهم اليوم بأثينا للمكتب التنفيذي للجنة الأولمبية الدولية
شيكاغو وريودي جانيرو ومدريد وباكو وبراغ وطوكيو تنافس الدوحة

تتجه انظار العالم مساء اليوم صوب العاصمة اليونانية اثينا للمتابعة والتعرف علي المدن التي ستواصل المنافسة لنيل شرف استضافة دورة الألعاب الأولمبية 2016 ، وفي مقدمتها الدوحة عاصمة الرياضة في الشرق الاوسط والتي تعد اول مدينة عربية تتقدم رسميا للمنافسة علي استضافة الدورة الاولمبية وقد تقدمت 7 مدن لاستضافة اولمبياد 2016 وهي الدوحة (قطر) وشيكاغو (الولايات المتحدة) وريو دي جانيرو (البرازيل) ومدريد (اسبانيا) وباكو (اذربيجان) وبراغ (تشيكيا) وطوكيو (اليابان). و قدمت دولة قطر ملف التنظيم في 13 يناير الماضي في مدينة لوزان السويسرية وقدمه الدكتور سيف الحجري مدير البيئة بالدوحة 2016 حيث تملك دولة قطر العديد من المنشآت الجاهزة التي تصل الي80 في المائة من متطلبات الدورة الاولمبية وكذلك الخبرة والدراية التامة في ادراة الاحداث الكبري خصوصا بعد نجاحها المنقطع النظير في استضافتها لدورة الالعاب الاسيوية في نهاية عام 2006 والتي قدمت تنظيما ومنشآت استحقت التقدير بالاضافة الي تنظيمها العديد من الاحداث الرياضية الكبري. ويعقد المكتب التنفيذي للجنة الاوليمبية الدولية برئاسة الدكتور جاك روغ رئيس اللجنة اجتماعه المهم والحاسم مساء اليوم بفندق هيلتون اثينا ويحضر مراسم الاعلان عن المدن المستمرة وفد ملف الدوحة 2016 الذي يضم سعادة الشيخ سعود بن عبد الرحمن آل ثاني الأمين العام للجنة الاولمبية القطرية وسعادة الشيخ عبد الله بن علي آل ثاني وحسن علي بن علي والدكتور سيف الحجري والدكتورة انيسة الهتمي وخليل الجابر.

D-Day for Doha

THE excitement is palpable and the tension unbearable as Qatar awaits its tryst with Olympic history when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) reveals its Candidate City shortlist for the 2016 Games in Athens today. The announcement is due at 6.30pm.
Seven cities – Doha, Madrid, Chicago, Baku, Tokyo, Rio de Janerio and Prague – are bidding to host the quadrennial sporting showpiece in eight years’ time, but at least two would be thrown out of the race when the ‘Lords of the Olympic Rings’ led by IOC president Jacques Rogge sit down to decide their fate.
The general consensus among bid-watchers is that the Caspian Sea resort city of Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan and Prague, the Czech capital, would fail to make the list because of various factors ranging from lack of preparation and poor government support to traffic congestion and pollution.
The novelty of the first-ever bid from an Arab country apart, Qatar’s growing credentials as a booming place in tune with the ideals of the modern world should see Doha’s bid through to the final phase which culminates in Copenhagen in October next year when the host is named.
The fact that the IOC has not revealed how many cities would make the shortlist has added to the tension of the bid teams who have assembled in the Greek capital which hosted the first modern Olympics in 1896 and also the hugely successful 2004 event.
“I would think four or five,” IOC executive board member Gerhard Heiberg said when asked how many cities are expected to survive the chop.
Qatar has already announced that it would do “what no other host city has done before” in delivering the “best-ever” Games in the history of the Olympics.
With Doha living up to its similar promise of hosting the “biggest and best Asian Games in history” in 2006 when the world watched in admiration, especially its spectacular opening and closing ceremonies, Qatar’s 2016 bid is as serious as it could be.
“I would like to thank HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani who have set our country on a monumental modernisation programme to become a role model for economic and social transformation in the region,” said Doha bid chairman Hassan Ali bin Ali.
“His Highness the Emir has played an extremely active role in promoting and developing sport in Qatar. His support has enhanced the country’s involvement and performance in international competitions,” he added.
Doha has always stressed that the Olympic Games are all about creating understanding, hope and change that could “unite the entire region with the rest of the world.”
“Bringing the Olympic flame to the Arabic-speaking world for the first time would help in extending the Games ideals to millions of new hearts and minds,” Ali bin Ali said.
“Our vision for the Games will be focused on our shared future – the world’s youth – particularly those disadvantaged either economically or through disability.”
The Olympic bid race is a lengthy affair and with no clear-cut rules governing the process, often the favourites have fallen by the wayside on the final D-Day.
“I look at it as, ‘This is it. It’s a sprint from June 4 until October 2009,’” Chicago bid leader Patrick Ryan told reporters.
“We’re feeling a bit like everyone else — cautious, uncertain and hopeful. We’re going into this assuming nothing. We just hope we’ll be honoured to be on the shortlist.”
Although Chicago is considered a “frontrunner”, the US Olympic Committee chief executive Jim Scherr is wary of the tag.
“It’s not to the advantage of the bid to be the frontrunners. Front runners haven’t done too well in this vote,” Scherr said recently.
When the race for the 2012 Olympics was on, Paris was the overwhelming favourite early on only to be beaten by London in the final vote.
The 2016 bid is also seen as a battle of the continents, but Tokyo and Madrid insist their bids shouldn’t suffer because Beijing is hosting the Games this year and London in 2012.
“The rotation of the continents is not a hard and fast rule,” the Spanish capital’s bid chief Mercedes Coghen said.
All cities have promised a compact Games with the majority of the venues located inside 10km from the Olympic Village.
The Doha bid committee also argues that Qatar winning the Games would contribute to Middle East peace efforts and help alter perceptions about the Arab world.
For Qatar, it is all about “Celebrating Change”.
Qatar couldn’t have chosen a better slogan to drive its Olympic dreams and it would be nothing short of a “Greek tragedy” if the Doha-2016 Bid fails to get past the first hurdle.

a pity Doha got dropped.

^^yea, and so does ur signature says, i think it was unfair

since the day doha bid , i have been waiting for this announcement.. pretty sad for doha fans and supporters... i was hoping for atleast 5 final host cities in the race.. this move of final 4 shows that it was really an orthodox and pre determined decision...

i know doha wont stop with this so does everyone... we'll come up much more better next time and win it.. true spirits out there support me...

Pretty Sad

Yallah dont getdepressed guys insha' allah we bid for 2020 and finally WIN IT !! no city got it from the first bid anyway so yeah lets bid for DOHA !

^^Thats soooooooooooo long, about 12 years time, if Doha doesn't win again, bye bye IOC!!!:D

^^ we should take some kind of revenge or maybe an olympic revolution !!

Doha Accuses IOC Of “Closing The Door”

REVENGE !!!!

The Guardian reports that Doha accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Wednesday, following its decision to eliminate Doha’s bid from the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, of “closing the door on the Arab world”.

In the IOC’s overall evaluation Doha reportedly tied Chicago for third place and ranked ahead of Rio de Janeiro.

Doha 2016 head Hassan Ali Bin Ali said, “it is a great pity that they (the IOC) have closed the door on a bid from the Middle East. If the Games are only going to be held in Europe, Asia and America then I do not know why the IOC want us in the Olympic movement”.

According to the Guardian Doha outperformed Rio in the majority of the categories assessed by the IOC and when asked if he though the decision has been taken on political or technical grounds, Ali Bin Ali said, “this was not a technical decision”.

The IOC said Wednesday night that Doha’s desire to stage the Games in October rather than the traditional mid-summer time frame because of high temperatures was the reason the city was rejected. Spokeswoman Giselle Davies said, “the IOC…decided not to grant this exception as it conflicts with the international sporting calendar and would be bad for athletes and sports fans. Does this mean Doha or another country from the Middle East could never host the Games? No.”

IOC executive director Gilbert Felli told a news conference Thursday that it was Doha’s suggestion to host the Games between October 15 and 30 to reduce the problem of high temperatures in the desert state and it doomed its bid. He said, “of course Doha was advised that the date of the Games would be July 15-August 31. They asked for an exception and it was not accepted by the executive board”. As for future chances for other Middle East applicants, Felli said, “…. Middle East countries are not exactly all in the same place”.

-----------------------------

this means that the next time we see the olympics in the middle east will be the time where athleats drop like stones because of the heat !!! :bash::bash:

it doesn't make sense!

"Doha can't host it because they need to host it after the hot period and that conflicts with sports fans and athletes".

"Will a country from the Middle East never host the Games? No"

So what do we do? Move our summer? Extinguish the sun! If we're to ever get it, we'll have to move the games anyway!

Unless they were trying to be sneaky and say "Hey, Israel is in the Middle East and their weather is fine."

Anyway by saying “…. Middle East countries are not exactly all in the same place”.
He's gone and said that Qatar will NEVER get it! (and that applies to all gulf countries).

What should Qatar have done? Suggested that the IOC decide the date?

^^That's what i posted in the discussion thread, it doesn't make sense why they took Doha out if the middle east can still host it.

folks.. it was said there would be 5 cities entering to the final show down... but they reduced it to 4 at the last stage.. this move from the ioc answers all the questions... it was predetermined decision... they had the plan of kicking doha out ...

but the reason behind the move is never unacceptable... there is no point in bidding for 2020 if ioc isn't happy with holding the games in october or november... dont those offficials think practically... if they got to think continent wise .. the why is europe given chance to hold 2012 olympics..???

guys take my word.. they will fix with rio de janeiro.. coz of the reason latin america dint get the chance to hold olympics.. dont wait till next year to figure this out...

at the end of the day its politics which got power here and not true spirits...

folks.. it was said there would be 5 cities entering to the final show down... but they reduced it to 4 at the last stage.. this move from the ioc answers all the questions... it was predetermined decision... they had the plan of kicking doha out ...

but the reason behind the move is never unacceptable... there is no point in bidding for 2020 if ioc isn't happy with holding the games in october or november... dont those offficials think practically... if they got to think continent wise .. the why is europe given chance to hold 2012 olympics..???

guys take my word.. they will fix with rio de janeiro.. coz of the reason latin america dint get the chance to hold olympics.. dont wait till next year to figure this out...

at the end of the day its politics which got power here and not true spirits...

no dont bid for 2020. cape town will win it.

^^It doesn't matter, Doha still bid and this time more stronger.

edit

^^It doesn't matter, Doha still bid and this time more stronger.

doha would prob score higher than cape town.

^^ and possibaly bid against Dubai.

Face facts guys - you wwere never going to win it! 2016 is between Rio & Cape Town - 2020 is going to Dubai.

Dont believe the stuff about the weather - they were giving you a face saving excuse - the real reason is that no town as small and backward and underdeveloped as Doha has ever won the Olympics!

The calendar issue will now be discussed and overturned in time for 2020.

to prove that you dont een know anything about 2016, cape town never made a bid ! loooooool

Face facts guys - you wwere never going to win it! 2016 is between Rio & Cape Town - 2020 is going to Dubai.

Dont believe the stuff about the weather - they were giving you a face saving excuse - the real reason is that no town as small and backward and underdeveloped as Doha has ever won the Olympics!

The calendar issue will now be discussed and overturned in time for 2020.

How pathetic and insulting. You are so biased and even you're signature represents how corrupt a person you are, its already upgrading its infrastructures if you have no eyes or ears to listen to the construction, big mouth! Even so its small, it had the strongest bid but the IOC was unfair, i doubt 2020 Dubai won't get it since Doha's influence to the other cities during the 1st round of 2016. You're also a very strong candidate for ignorance, and hope you get to the top 4 ignorant.

oops double post

Face facts guys - you wwere never going to win it! 2016 is between Rio & Cape Town - 2020 is going to Dubai.

Cape Town? lol.

Dont believe the stuff about the weather - they were giving you a face saving excuse - the real reason is that no town as small and backward and underdeveloped as Doha has ever won the Olympics!

Wrong. If that was the case, the Olympic Committee could easily have bashed Doha by giving it a low technical grade, without making waves. The truth is, Doha was ranked as high as Chicago and ahead of Rio, and therefore proved its capacity to organize the games, without any possible objection.

Final result, from the Olympic Committee's website:

http://img183.imageshack.us/img183/841/2016dohatruthhv5.jpg

Dont believe the stuff about the weather - they were giving you a face saving excuse - the real reason is that no town as small and backward and underdeveloped as Doha has ever won the Olympics!



No city as promising, exciting, vibrant, and beautiful as Doha has ever won the Olympics...

Cape Town? lol.





exactly. cape town isn't even bidding for 2016. 2020 possibly.

No city as promising, exciting, vibrant, and beautiful as Doha has ever won the Olympics...

Tallsmurf's post was overreaching and hyperbolic and yours was equally overreaching and hyperbolic.

The issue of size is very legitimate though. Since Olympics are as much a national celibration (unfortunatly) as an international one the IOC would prefer to go into bigger markets both for its sponsers and get wide reaching enthusiasm among the most amount of people.

and possibaly bid against Dubai.

I wouldn't worry about Dubai, the reasons why Doha isn't/wouldn't be seen as viable candidate are almost the exact same why Dubai wouldn't either. Little it has to do with the exact physical logistics of hosting a games but other more intangible reasons that makes a host electable.

Hi - sorry if my last post was a bit over the top - and I dont know where I got Cape Town from:ohno:

But I stand by the basic point I was making - Doha is simply too small and underdeveloped to host an international event like the Olympics

I know there are huge construction projects underway, but just take a drive through any of the back streets and look at the state of the potholed roads (I broke an axle on one :bash:) - and the state of the public transport.

All very well saying that it will all be ready in 10 years - well build half of it and apply again for the 2020 games - but I am afraid that Dubai will just blow you out of the water.

^^ not really, no city ever won the olympics in its first bid so doha is excused and dubai will not get 2020 at all.... i am hoping chicago or rio get it and not tokyo so i could watch dubai and doha fight to the end :D

and our transport is U/C so you cant judge us now, judge us in 2010 where about 50% of the major road infrustructer is complete, roads like alshamal road, feburary 22nd road, salwa road etc. the metro though, (i highly bilieve its a bad idea) will be underground (sadly eeew) will cover parts of doha..... construction start somwhere after 2010.....

oh and the doha bay crossing the 8 lane bridge will be the most spatacular one :D it will take 4 years to construct since its huge ! it will go from the new airport to somwhere near the intercontinental hotel.

What Doha had undergone would be the same as if Dubai had bid for 2016 anyway, so you can't say Dubai would be bashing over Doha, and Qatar can spend more and has a high model in hosting games. And you can't say Doha is undeveloped since you are talking about the city centre and not the other parts.

^^ not really, no city ever won the olympics in its first bid so doha is excused and dubai will not get 2020 at all....

sydney, seoul, atlanta.

hmmmmm....... i thought it was rare..... oh well.. easy come, easy go.

^^Actually you're excusable since many articles say that.

QOC proudly praises Doha's third place on IOC report


Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) has expressed its deep proud over classification of Doha city on third place among candidate cities bidding to host 2016 Olympic Games, that according to international Olympic Committee (IOC) official report.

IOC official report asserted that Doha clinched third place equally with Chicago of USA, as Tokyo secured the first place, Madrid in second place, while Prague and Baku on the fourth and fifth places.

QOC confirmed Qatar's commitment in backing sport by supervising organization of international official sport championships in different games as a part of its primary responsibility towards international community.

Doha in previous period showed huge organizational skills when hosting the 15th Asian games 2006, where 45 Asian countries took part in the event under one umbrella and competed in privileged sport spirit.

15th Asian games 2006 granted Doha a legal right to bid for hosting 2016 Olympic Games, specially the city possesses splendid sport infrastructure and facilities beside organizational experience.

QOC said in statement that it will wait IOC executive board final report, in order to study remarks included and set efforts for upcoming stage.

IOC report on candidate cities bidding to host 2016 Olympic Games.