The Olympic Council of Asia Evaluation Committee members and officials taking a ride in Doha Metro.
Qatar, with proven experience of hosting mega sports events, can deliver an amazing Asian Games, the Doha 2030 CEO Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said yesterday as the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) Evaluation Committee concluded its tour.
The OCA Evaluation Committee, led by Andrey Kryukov, visited a number of venues during their three-day visit to Doha including the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022’s Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, the Lusail Arena in brand new city of Lusail and the Aspire Academy besides experiencing a ride on the city’s Metro network.
While Kryukov said OCA Evaluation Committee was ‘satisfied’ after their hectic tour of Doha - which also played host to the memorable 2006 Asian Games - Al Buenain asserted ‘Doha 2030 is a gateway to a bright future for the sports industry in Asia.’
“Doha 2030 is a national priority and has the full support of the Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. It is about Qatar National Vision 2030,” Al Buenain, also the Secretary-General of the Qatar Olympic Committee, said at a press conference yesterday that wrapped up OCA Evaluation Committee’s visit to the Qatari capital.
Kryukov, OCA’s Vinod Kumar Tiwari and Doha 2030 Director of Marketing and Communication Sheikha Asma Al Thani also attended the press conference.
“I would like to thank the OCA Evaluation Committee for their time, effort and invaluable feedback they have provided. Obviously we have enjoyed very productive and collaborative three days,” said Al Buenain. “I am sure they have been able to see what the bid means to our people, our city and to our country.
“Our bid is more than just a Qatari priority. It is to show how the Doha 2030 could shape the immediate and long-term priorities for Qatar and the other Asian NOCs,” Al Buenain said.
Al Buenain added: “Actually, the 2030 bid is a gateway to certainty of excellence. We have the people, we have the expertise, we have the experiences and most importantly we have the passion. When it comes to the venues, the venues are already there. The venues have been tested by the Asian and international federations for many years.”
“Athletes will get top conditions to train and to compete. Doha 2030 is already a gateway to a legacy now, not in 10 years. That means, if we are honoured the hosting of the Asian Games, the programme will start in 2021 and we will call it 21 Project Legacy. Altogether, it means that Doha 2030 is a gateway to a bright future for the sports industry in Asia,” said Al Buenain.
The Doha 2030 CEO, who has overseen various major events in recent years, said Qatar is in the best position to deliver a highly-successful Asian Games.
“With no infrastructure investment required and no new venues needed to be built, we can focus on serving the Asian NOCs and host amazing Games. Qatar has the first rank in the MENA region in the Global Peace Index and Qatar has diversity of population with more than 90 nations living here peacefully with different culture and faith,” he said before adding that Doha 2030 will give a further boost to country’s development.
“We succeeded in transferring the legacy from 2006 to different sectors in Qatar. Through Asian Games 2030, we are working to even have the legacy for Qatar and Asia. We believe in the power of sport, and we believe that sports play an important role in boosting the country’s development,” said Buenain.
Meanwhile, Sheikha Asma said yesterday: “Doha has a very strong bid for delivery of the Games. We will offer all our expertise to make sure very good hospitality at the Games. We hope that we can win the bid and host the Asian Games again.”
The OCA is scheduled to pick the host city for the 2030 Asian Games at its General Assembly in Muscat on December 16.
