Sports Thursday, December 17, 2020 17 “Hosting an event as long and important DOHA 2030 ASIAN GAMES: as Asian Games requires more than just infrastructure CREATING A WORLD and facilities. It’s rather about the many intangibles that make ‘WHERE WE ALL BELONG’ a great Games.” TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA Qatar’s great desire and the Doha2030 Bid Committee’s emphasis on Doha’s sporting legacy, its vision for an Asian Games ‘Where We All Belong’, and the aim of unprecedented Asian legacy starting in 2021, backed by amazing and flawless presentations saw Doha emerge as a deserving destination for the 21st Asian Games. An hon- our Doha – the sporting capital of the world — has received a second time since hosting the 15th Asian Games in 2006. Presenting the vision at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly in Muscat on Wednesday, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for For- eign Affairs HE Sheikh Moham- ed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, said, “I don’t think there is any question about Qatar govern- ment’s support and dedication that it gives to sport. The sport is in our DNA and it’s truly part of our national identity. It’s a new approach of bidding for the Asian Games. Because our fo- cus is on you, not on us. My role is to assure you that our govern- ment’s commitment to 2030 is total and unqualified. Just as it was for the 2006 Asian Games. “Hosting an event as long and important as Asian Games requires more than just infra- structure and facilities which we HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of Doha2030 Bid Committee and President of Qatar Olympic Committee, exults as the name of Doha is announced the Host City for 2030 Asian Games during the Olympic already have. It’s rather about Council of Asia General Assembly Meeting in Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday. the many intangibles that make a great Games. The friendliness of the people, the acceptance of other beliefs and other ways of life and the optimism of the society focused about the future and not looked into the past. These are the things that make the Games truly memorable. “One of the key aspects of our bid is the safety and security of our guests, especially in to- day’s world. According to crime index 2020, Qatar is the world’s safest country and you have our commitment that your athletes and delegations will be as well- Qatar athletes Mutaz Essa Barshim and Nada Arakji speak during protected as our own athletes. Doha 2030 presentation at the Olympic Council of Asia’s General Creating a whole diverse and Assembly Meeting in Muscat, Oman, on Wednesday. unparalleled experience, even beyond the Games. We believe Doha 2030 is a win-win situa- said, “The spectacular Athletes’ Qatar has a duty larger than tion for us all – the athletes, the Village will have 2,000 units ourselves and that is to help NOCs, the OCA and the Olym- and a capacity for 15,000 peo- create a better world. A world pic movement across the globe. ple - with the potential to ac- where we all belong.” This is a shared legacy and we’re commodate up to 18,000.” HE Sheikh Joaan bin stronger because of it.” Athletes Mutaz Barshim, Hamad Al Thani, Chairman HE Sheikha Hind bint who is twice Olympic medalist of Doha2030 Bid Committee Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chair- and world high jump cham- and President of Qatar Olym- person and CEO of Qatar Foun- pion, and Qatar’s first Olympic pic Committee, said, “This is dation, spoke about “Celebrat- swimmer Nada Arakji, spoke a great opportunity for all the ing the Universality of Sport”. eloquently highlighting what people of Qatar. Sports is our She also recalled her own sport- athletes can look forward to at national identity, it’s in our ing excellence as an athlete and the Games in Doha. “I still have DNA. Our entire country has HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of Doha2030 Bid Committee and President of Qatar Olympic Committee shows the Certificate how sports is imbibed in the the t-shirt I wore as a volunteer been working so hard for the of Appreciation Doha received for being the 2030 Asian Games Host City, along with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Qatari culture. at the Doha 2006 Games as a past 20 years, building a truly HE Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, and HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation. Sheikha Asmaa Thani Al teenager then,” said Barshim. world class sporting infrastruc- Thani, Doha 2030 Bid Com- Qatar will be playing host ture and gaining expertise. hard work by the people of you have, where you have it and international championships. more Asian athletes on Olympic mittee and Qatar Olympic to the multi-sport event eight “Quite simply there is no Doha. It’s also the result of our build as little as possible.’ We They have been tried and trust- podiums. We want that to be Committee Marketing and years after it stages the football limit to Qatari’s can achieve. dedication over the years to de- did that. We did not change our ed. It’s not only venues that are part of your national sports his- Communications Director, extravaganza – the FIFA World Over the Asian Games in impor- velop sport in Qatar and in the city to fit the Asian Games. We ready but management teams tory, not just ours. And we want said, “Because of our invest- Cup Qatar 2022. tance. It holds a special place in region. Athletes are our most adapted the Games to fit our as well. There is no learning to support you in your efforts to ment in sport over the years, A video during the presen- my heart. I had the honour to important priority. And the existing infrastructure. We did curve for Doha 2030. The cru- get there. Doha is a place where we are in the unique position to tation showcased Qatar’s raft be the torch relay bearer in the compact nature of our Games this to save time and resources cial point that makes our bid we all belong, because we have propose a new kind of bid.” of sporting and transport infra- 2006 Doha Asian Games. Back will allow athletes to travel which we want to invest back unique is that we don’t just have planned it that way. Our Games HE Jassim Rashid Al Bue- structure being prepared ahead then I visited 26 cities in 15 na- quickly to venues and training. in all of you. We have built our the hardware but we also have will serve as a new model, not nain, Doha2030 Bid Commit- of the 2022 World Cup that tions in 55 days. The message of the Olym- 200 sports facilities, which has the software. just for 2030 but for the incred- tee CEO and Secretary-General, would be repurposed for the “This bid is a result of the pic Agenda 2020 is ‘Use what hosted more than 50 major “Our goal is simple. We want ible journey that lies ahead. Qatar Olympic Committee, 2030 Asian Games. Previous Asian Games host cities 1951 - New Delhi- India; 1954 - Manila- Philippines; 1958 - Tokyo- Japan; 1962 - Jakarta- Indonesia; 1966 - Bangkok- Thailand; 1970 - Bangkok- Thailand; 1974 - Tehran- Iran; 1978 - Bangkok- Thailand; 1982 - New Delhi- India; Former India Prime Minister Late 1986 - Seoul- Korea; Jawaharlal Nehru at the 1990 - Beijing- China; inauguration of the first Asian 1994 - Hiroshima- Japan; Games in New Delhi. 1998 - Bangkok- Thailand; NOTE: The 19th Asian Games- will 2002 - Busan- Korea; take place in Hangzhou- China- from September 10-25- 2022; 20th Asian 2006 - Doha- Qatar; Games- Aichi-Nagoya- Japan from 2010 - Guangzhou- China; September 19 to October 4- 2026; THEN & NOW: HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, Chairman of Doha2030 Bid Committee and President 2014 - Incheon- Korea; 21st Asian Games- Doha- Qatar in of Qatar Olympic Committee, and HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of 2018 - Jakarta-Palembang- 2030; 22nd Asian Games in Qatar Foundation, are reflected in these pictures in which Qatar won the bids to host FIFA World Cup 2022 Indonesia. Riyadh- Saudi Arabia in 2034. The Japanese delegation the 39th Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) and the 2030 Doha Asian Games. General Assembly Meeting in Muscat on Wednesday. (AFP).