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Chairman's Blog

5.02.2008

Support from on high

Walking around Doha in the past few weeks has been a bit like walking along celebrity row. I just keep bumping into people whose faces I recognise from the small screen, who are all in town for the Qatar Masters golf tournament.

It was particularly pleasing to see three huge Olympic legends in Doha: the British rower Steve Redgrave, the only person ever to have won five gold medals in five consecutive Olympic Games, and the American athletics ‘greats’ Carl Lewis and Michael Johnson.

Reading the Qatari newspapers last week, I was struck by the wonderful things that Carl Lewis – one of only four Olympic athletes ever to win nine gold medals – said about Doha’s Bid to host an event he has made his own.

Speaking at a press conference, Carl Lewis told reporters: “Qatar could host the Olympics next week if given a chance. This country has so much international appeal and people from all around the world are working here – Asians, Africans and even Americans.”

“Though Chicago is my backyard, I would love the Olympics to come here. I think the Olympics should go everywhere.”

“Qatar is an amazing place. This is a place where the future is. The biggest thing for me is … the excitement of the future. For me, to be somewhere which holds so much international appeal, it is simply marvellous. People are coming from all over the world to live and work here. That is a great thing – Doha is a great example of people joining hands to make the world a better place.”

Well quite! I really couldn’t have put it better myself! However, to have such unequivocal support from an Olympian of Carl Lewis’s stature is simply wonderful.

It hasn’t just been sports stars in town, though. One of my favourite stars of the silver screen, Omar Sharif, hero of classics such as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and ‘Dr. Zhivago’ was in town too, and he also had very kind things to say about our Olympic ambitions. “Doha has the necessary infrastructure in place to host the Olympic Games. If there is a city that should be chosen to host the Olympic Games in 2016, it should be Doha. I hope to be alive to see this Arabic dream achieved,” he said. Well, let’s hope we can fulfil his dream!

While golf is not an Olympic sport, it was also great to get yet more encouraging words from some of the heroes of the European Ryder Cup team.

The Irish golfer Paul McGinley knows Qatar very well as he has been coming here every year for the past 11 years. He was quoted at his press conference saying that he was truly impressed by the rapid development that had taken place over that time and he could see how Qatar was becoming the sports hub of the region.

The newspapers quoted him as saying: “I enjoy the local hospitality whilst I am in Doha and look forward to coming back each year. I wish Doha 2016 all the best and would enjoy the opportunity to watch the Olympics in Doha in 2016.”

The newspaper reports also carried complimentary comments and best wishes for our Bid from the Spanish golf star Sergio Garcia and the British player Luke Donald.

People who come here all testify that Doha is a great place, whether for sport, for holidays, to study, or for business. We just need to get the news out to those that haven’t been here yet.

For me, though, the high point of the Qatar Masters tournament was the visit to our exhibition tent by His Highness, the Amir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani. His Highness was touring the tented village at the centre of the tournament and made a point of stopping at the Doha 2016 exhibition stand to wish us well for the Candidate City selection in June. It was a great honour and we are blessed to have his total support.

I have been truly touched by the support shown for Doha from all these great people. It is very humbling, but at the same time keeps the whole team’s spirits high to keep working hard to get through to the next stage and become a Candidate City in June.