Wednesday 20 / November / 2024
1- What are the main points that Doha commented on in its file for hosting 2030 Asian Games?
A key point is that our Doha 2030 Asian Games bid has been developed with all of Asian in mind. Doha 2030 is promising an Asian Games where ‘We All Belong’. Our focus is not on what the Asian Games will do for Qatar but rather on what an Asian Games in Qatar can do for Asia. We want to share all our world-class infrastructure and sports experience with our brothers and sisters from the Asian NOCs to create a home-away-from-home and a true celebration of our continent’s cultural diversity. We want to provide an unprecedented legacy that will begin immediately and run through to 2030 and beyond.
From the moment people arrive in Doha to the moment they leave we will do everything we can to provide them with the ultimate Games experience. This means delivering an athlete-centred masterplan that allows athletes to achieve their best results and create unforgettable moments of inspiration for us all. Our extensive infrastructure and sports experience allows us to make this guarantee to the OCA family. But our welcoming, diverse and inclusive society also allows us to guarantee that away from sport unforgettable moments will be a part of the everyday experience.
2- What is your perception of Doha file's chances for hosting such an amazing event ???
We are very confident in our bid and the offer we are making to the OCA family. We know that we can stage an Asian Games of the very highest standards, that delivers spectacular sport and a magical and welcoming Games experience. Ultimately, it is the decision of our friends in the Asian NOCs who will decide which city is awarded the Asian Games. But we hope we have been able to demonstrate to them that Doha is the right bid at the right time for Asia.
3- Doha had already organized 2006 Asian Games , and that was 14 years ago, in case Doha achieved the honour to host 2030 Asian Games , what will be the difference between the two editions , with a gap of 24 years ???
There would be a lot of differences between the Doha 2006 Asian Games and an Asian Games in Doha in 2030. However, one thing that would remain the same and will never change is our love of sport, the warmth of Doha’s hospitality and our commitment to excellence.
Hosting the Asian Games in 2006 was a huge honour for us and it represented a defining moment in our sports history. But Doha was a very different city back then. We were at the start of our sports journey. We did not have the experience or the expertise that we have today. Doha has since become one of the world’s leading hosts of major international events. That experience will increase over the coming years as we are set to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and the FINA World Championships and IJF Judo World Championships in 2023.
We want to share all this experience with Asia to ensure that the whole continent can benefit. In today’s uncertain world we do not believe it is the time for major investment projects but rather that it is the time for a sustainable, risk-free Games.
4- What do you promise the Asian continent in Doha 2030 file?
The certainty of excellence that I mentioned also allows us to make another promise to Asia and that is that we can promise an immediate and unprecedented legacy for all Asian NOCs. Since we do not have to build new sports venues, we can focus our time and energy on helping meet the needs and priorities of the Asian NOCs, starting from the beginning of next year.
We plan to use these investment legacy savings to create a programme, managed by the OCA and independently audited, that provides financial investment and knowledge transfer for NOC development programmes. During these difficult times caused by the pandemic, we know that support for sports development is more important than ever.
We will also commit to facilitating knowledge sharing focused on elite sport development for NOCs and create tailored programmes for athletes to travel to and train at the multi-sport, state-of-the-art Aspire Academy. We can leverage our proven training facilities to help Asian NOCs prepare their strongest ever teams for an Asian Games.
Doha 2030 will explore the opportunities of creating sub-regional training hubs across Asia that draw from the proven experience of Aspire and best practice in those regions to aid the development of elite sport.
In addition to all of this, we are promising a whole host of other programmes that will ensure our legacy is felt by NOCs throughout the 10 years before the Games and beyond. These programmes include Training Camps, a Cultural Programme, a Youth Camp, a Stars of Asia Programme, NOC lectures and workshops, and education and training. As well as travel and accommodation subsidies for eligible athletes.
5- How will the infrastructure developments you have witnessed in Qatar will affect on its file ?
The significant infrastructure that has been built in Doha over the last 20 years has allowed us to guarantee certainty to the OCA family. Certainty that we can deliver a risk-free, athlete-focused, world-class Asian Games. We have the infrastructure, we have the experience, and we are ready.
We have developed a low-cost, sustainable bid that adapts to the realities of the times we are living in without compromising on quality. Asian NOCs can be certain that their athletes will be provided with the very best environment to compete in in 2030. Because not only do our venues already exist but they have been tried and test to the very highest standards.
6- Hosting Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup for the first time in the Middle East in Qatar , by somehow, will it support Doha 2030 Asian Games File ?
Yes, we are delighted to have the full support of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. They have made a major contribution to our bid and many of the state-of-the-art venues that have been built for the World Cup would also be used to host Asian Games sports in 2030. Iconic venues such as the Khalifa International stadium, Al Rayyan, Al Janoub, Al Bayt and Al Thumama are all part of Doha 2030’s sustainable masterplan that will ensure the very best environment for Asia’s athletes.
We will also leverage Qatar 2022’s impressive sustainability strategy in order to deliver one of the most environmentally friendly Asian Games ever held.
Qatar 2022 has made it clear that they are ready to share knowledge and experience they have gained so that, together, all of Asia can enjoy a world-class celebration of sport and diversity in 2030.
7- Qatar has gained huge experience by hosting high level international competitions .. How do you see the impact of these huge experience of organizing big events on Doha 2030 file?
We believe that there is no substitute for experience. It is our experience that can give Asian NOCs total confidence in our ability to deliver a world-class Asian Games.
Doha has a proven track record of staging events to the very highest standards. We have worked closely with International Sports Federations and Asian Sports Federations, and so we know what they require and how to meet their technical requirements.
Experience has also given us the opportunity to learn and progress. Every time we host an event we analyse where we can improve. We listen to feedback from all stakeholders; from NOCs, athletes and IFs to spectators, sponsors and broadcasters. We love sport and so we want to make sure we showcase it at its very best.
8- How did you deal with the circumstances surrounding Coronavirus pandemic during the visit of the Asian Assessment Committee?
First and foremost our, thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this terrible pandemic. All of Asia, like the world, is facing significant challenges and we stand in solidarity with the OCA family at this difficult time.
During the OCA Evaluation Committee visit, we ,of course, abided by strict safety protocols that were developed by our national authorities and medical experts. In doing so, we were able to safely stage a very successful and productive visit. We were very grateful to the Evaluation Committee for coming to visit us and for providing invaluable feedback on our bid.
With the legacy programmes, we have developed as part of our bid we also hope we will be able to help NOCs overcome the challenges they are facing because of the pandemic over the next couple of years. Working together, we will emerge stronger.
9- Some reports mentioned that Doha is ready since now for hosting this huge event ... Is this true?
When we talk about being ready now we are talking about the wealth of infrastructure and experience that already exists in Doha. In order to host the Asian Games in Doha, we would have to make minimal investment. All our permanent sports venues are already built, our modern Metro and transport network is already operational, we have no hotels to build, we already have a 5-star airport served by an award-winning airline that connects to countries all around the world and our cutting-edge, sustainable city that will house the Athletes’ Village is already planned.
It is this readiness that means that we are uniquely positioned to turn our attention to how the Games can benefit the Asian NOCs and how Doha 2030 can deliver a magical experience.
10- What will be the expected effects in the daily life in Qatar , if the country got the honour to organisze this edition ?
The Qatari people are very passionate about sport. We are also very welcoming by nature. And so hosting sports events and hosting people from around the world is a real honour for us.
Sports events do not get much bigger or more prestigious than the Asian Games, and so if we have the honour of being awarded the event it will be a huge source of our pride.
This bid is a national priority for our nation and closely aligned with our National Vision 2030. It has the full support of the State and all levels of Qatari sport and society.
