02.12.2008
Doha, 28 May 2008 - The International Sport Press Association (ISPA) has honoured the 15th Asian Games in Doha for having the best media services for journalists in 2007.
The services provided at the Asian Games in Doha won first place with 62 votes out of 96 votes just ahead of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships who took second place with 18 points and the Osaka Grand Prix in third place with 16 points. Doha 2006 was held in December and was therefore included in the 2007 award.
Commenting on the result, Mr Hassan Ali Bin Ali, the Chairman of the Doha 2016 Bid Committee, said: “The 2006 Asian Games in Doha provided clear evidence of Qatar’s ability to host a major international multi-sport event successfully and to welcome athletes, spectators and journalists from all over the world. We are committed and dedicated to providing the media with the best possible assistance and support ¬– and we are very proud that the award from AIPS acknowledges the efforts made during the Games.”
The Asian Games are the world’s second largest multi-sport, multi-day event after the Olympic Games and Doha 2006 has been called the best, the biggest, the most widely reported, and the highest standard Asian Games ever. Doha hosted 8,000 athletes competing in 39 sports over a 15-day period.
If awarded the Olympic Games in 2016, Doha will construct a ‘Media City’ in cooperation with Qatar University, on a 72-hectare site. It will include a Media Village accommodating up to 22,000 people, directly adjacent to the Main Media Centre – and its location is just 14 km on average from all competition venues.
It will be served by its own metro station and is located on multiple transport corridors, allowing the Media Transport System to operate efficiently between venues.
Doha 2016 has initiated an international sustainable design competition for the construction of the Media City. The Bid Committee is working 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 divided into two components. The smaller component will offer housing for university students. But the majority of units will be adapted to create apartments for sale or lease, in particular for employees in the Research and Development Centre that will be created from the IBC. Revenues will go to the University trust. At least one of the buildings will be used as an apart-hotel for attendees at conference and exhibitions.
The Media City will provide students who attend Qatar University in the future with a lasting legacy in terms of the infrastructure provided as well as a genuine Olympic facility for their academic needs.