11.10.2008
Cherie Blair praises Doha 2016 Bid
Cherie Blair, wife of the former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, has praised Doha’s Bid to host the 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games and told delegates at a conference in Doha that sport was “a powerful agent of change”.
Speaking at the Third International Forum at the Shafallah Centre in Doha, Blair said that the power of sport – playing it, watching it, talking about it – brought people together in a way that very few other activities managed.
“Sport is a place where people find common ground. It unites people from different social backgrounds, ethnicities and religions. At its best and with the right role models it challenges prejudices and changes attitudes in wider society,” she said.
Blair, who played a key role in London’s 2012 Bid, continued: “That is a really important message about how sport can transmit unity and harmony in our societies.”
“The world still sadly sees conflict and strife and there is still is the need to inspire a new generations with the ideals that rise above the misunderstandings that lead to conflict, and which also particularly in the Paralympic Movement embody the triumph of the human spirit over adversity.”
Blair spoke warmly of Doha’s Bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2016, saying: “I know that the Olympic dream is very much in the hearts and minds of the people of Doha at the moment. And I am not surprised because there is a real sense of anticipation about the Olympics and the Paralympics in your hopes and desires to bring the games here not just to Doha, not just to Qatar but to this region in 2016.
“It is a very special thing giving you the chance to give a warm welcome to visitors around the world and a chance to showcase your country with pride.
“From everything I know about Doha – and particularly of the vision of His Highness The Amir and Her Highness Sheikha Moza and their vision for creating a just and vibrant and modern society here – I am totally confident that that vision will give Doha the impetus to present the very best Bid to follow London and host the Games in 2016.”
The full text of Cherie Blair’s speech can be found at www.shafallah.org.qa