The Doha Asian Games
Organising
Committee's
preparations moved
up a gear on 17
January 2006, as
Director General
Abdulla Khalid Al
Qahtani officially
welcomed guests to
the reveal of the
13-country Torch
Relay route that
will begin its
journey in October
2006 and conclude at
the 15th Asian Games
Opening Ceremony in
Doha on 1 December
2006.
The Torch Relay will
visit every former
Asian Games host
country: China, The
Philippines,
Indonesia, Thailand,
India, Iran, Korea,
Japan and five Gulf
Cooperation Council
(GCC) States to
which Qatar belongs;
Bahrain, Kuwait,
Oman and UAE.
It was also
announced during the
event that His
Excellency Sheikh
Joaan Bin Hamad Al
Thani has accepted
the role of the Doha
2006 Torch Relay
Ambassador. H.E.
Sheikh Joaan's roles
will include
conveying the Qatari
Heritage to the
world through the
Torch Relay;
highlighting the
ideals of the Asian
Games and promoting
the spirit and
culture of Asia.
"I am delighted to
be a part of this
exceptional journey,
one that will travel
around the region
promoting
friendship,
community and
peace", said the
Official Torch Relay
Ambassador, in a
pre-recorded speech.
"I eagerly await the
moment when the
Torch will return to
Doha and officially
open the Games."
A breathtaking
television
commercial, shot on
location in India,
Thailand and China
showcased the
strength, spirit and
endurance of the
Torch Relay where
3,500 torchbearers
will carry the Flame
a distance of 500
metres each on a
journey that will
span more than
50,000 kilometres.
"The eyes of the
world will follow
the Flame through
local and
international
media," said Abdulla
Khalid Al Qahtani,
Director General,
DAGOC "and we are
proud to showcase
the very best of our
spirit and culture
to the rest of Asia
and the world
through the Games'
Torch."
The Doha 2006 Games'
Torch Relay will
travel by various
means of transport
throughout its
journey including
camels, horses,
dhows and likely to
include bicycles,
trams, elephants,
rickshaws, canoes,
dragon boats and
other modes of
transport.
"This is the first
step towards the
launch of the Torch
Relay that takes
place ahead of the
Games, while the
Flame is the primary
symbol of the ideals
and values of the
Games and fair
competition," Al
Qahtani continued.
The announcement of
the Torch Relay
route is a key
milestone on the
road to the Games
that will benefit
Qatar by ways of
global awareness to
the fast-developing
and evolving
country, while
showcasing the
heritage of the
nation.
"The remaining
months to the Games
will witness our
commitment and
devotion to place
Qatar on the
international sports
map, believing in
the importance of
this event to
further enhance the
position of Qatar as
an emerging regional
and international
cultural sports
destination."
"This is a step
further to unifying
the people and the
cultures of Asia
through the spirit
of the Games,
enthusiasm, respect
and above all; peace
achieved through
sportsmanship and
brotherhood," Al
Qahtani concluded.
The Doha 2006 Torch
will be lit at a
special ceremony in
October 2006 in
Doha, the host city
for the Games.
