DOHA, 25 October 2007 – The Heir Apparent of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tameem Bin Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani officially launched Doha’s Bid to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
At the event on the shore of the city, Sheikh Tameem also unveiled the Bid’s new logo, its tagline and the new state-of-the-art website.
Thousands of people gathered along the coastal Corniche highway to watch the event, which featured aerial acrobatic displays and culminated in a spectacular firework display over the sea.
VIPs, including members of the Qatari government and the Qatar National Olympic Committee, also watched as the new Bid logo was projected onto a water screen rising from the sea and then onto the side of the high-rise Olympic Tower in the city.
Speaking at the event, the Doha 2016 Bid Committee Chairman Mr Hassan Ali Bin Ali said: “Hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha in 2016 would bring the Olympic flame to the Arabic-speaking world for the very first time and extend the Olympic ideals to millions of new hearts and minds.”
He added: “Our vision for the Games will be focused on the world’s youth. It is among the young people of this region and the rest of the world that we must nourish these core values of respect, tolerance, understanding and hope – and through these ideals offer them an opportunity to effect great and positive changes to the world that they will inherit.”
The Doha 2016 tagline was announced to be “Celebrating Change”. Mr Hassan said: “A celebration is about unity and friendship; it is about optimism and commemorating change; it is open and welcoming; it overcomes barriers to cultures and peoples; it honours achievement.
“The Olympic Games themselves are among the world’s greatest celebrations. And in 2016, hopefully Doha will host the greatest celebration the Olympic Movement has ever seen.”
“We are celebrating the momentous changes that have taken place and continue to take place in our country. We are celebrating the changes that hosting the Olympic and Paralympic Games will bring to Qatar, to Doha, to this entire region and to the wider world.”
The logo was revealed to be a representation of the ‘Flower of the Spring’ – the Aldahma – which is drawn out of the Arabic calligraphy strokes forming the words ‘Doha 2016’.
Mr Hassan said: “Our Bid logo represents a celebratory message for a truly energetic and spirited 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games in Doha.”
He concluded by urging the entire population of Qatar to support the Doha Bid, saying: “The Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid can change Qatar. It can change this entire region. It can change the world. Now that will indeed be a “change to celebrate”.
The new Doha 2016 website, in English, French and Arabic, can be found at www.doha2016.org.
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