Doha presents master plan for 2030 Asian Games

Doha (Qatar), 17 November (2020) - The Doha 2030 Asian Games Bid Committee recently concluded its presentation to the OCA Evaluation Committee with a commitment to providing a Gateway to immediate legacy benefits for the Asian National Olympic Committees (NOCs).

Doha 2030 explained that with all required permanent venues planned or in place, it has an unprecedented opportunity to redirect the time and investment most cities spend on building infrastructure, towards supporting Asian sports’ recovery from the current COVID-19 pandemic, as paper the report of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Kathmandu.

Harnessing the positive long-term impact of hosting the Asian Games in 2006, Doha 2030 has developed a detailed plan for a legitimate and sustainable legacy programme – Project Legacy 21 – that will assist Asia’s NOCs from next year, 2021, through to the Games in 2030 and beyond. The specifics of the programme have been deliberately kept confidential while the Bid Committee has finalised the details over the last couple of months. An announcement is expected within the coming weeks.

 “Legacy has been firmly embedded in our bid as an absolute priority from the very beginning. From the onset, we have looked at how the benefits we have enjoyed from Doha 2006 can be translated, through Doha 2030, into long-term benefits for Asia,” said the President of the Doha 2030 Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

“Our legacy plans are fully aligned with our nation’s social, economic and development goals. We are proposing a legacy built on reliability and certainty that only Qatar can legitimately offer, and that is more vital than ever in these times of global uncertainty,” he said.

“Sport is part of our Qatar’s national identity and we believe strongly in the powerful role it can play in driving social change and fostering peace and understanding. If we are awarded the honour of hosting the Asian Games we would ensure a legacy that is felt beyond Qatar. Doha 2030 will be a Gateway to a brighter future for Asian sport,” he added.

Doha 2030 also reinforced how its infrastructure and major event delivery knowledge means it can provide the certainty that is fundamental to its ability to promise an enduring Asian legacy. This certainty was reflected in Doha 2030’s finance presentation which showcased a Games budget without financial risk due to the lack of capital investment required and the strength of Qatar’s economy, said the statement.

Doha 2030 CEO Jassim Rashid Al-Buenain said that, “On behalf of Doha 2030, I would like to thank the Evaluation Committee for their time with us. Our bid is a national priority; it has the full support of His Highness the Amir and the State of Qatar. As this visit has shown, our bid brings together all levels of sport and society in Qatar and I would like to thank all our partners for their ongoing support.

“But our bid is about more than just Qatar’s priorities. It is about how Doha 2030 can serve the priorities of the Asian NOCs. Thanks to the gift of the 2006 Asian Games, Doha is uniquely positioned to give back to the OCA family. We are ready to doing that by delivering a Gateway to certainty, a Gateway to a magical Games experience.  And a Gateway to legacy now,” he added.

In addition, Doha 2030 presented on themes including marketing, Games Programme, ceremonies and media and broadcast before the Evaluation Committee was taken on a tour of international broadcaster beIN.

CEO of beIN MEDIA GROUP Yousef Al-Obaidly said, “We were delighted to welcome the distinguished delegation from the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) today in support of Doha’s world-class Asian Games 2030 bid.”

“We showcased the world-leading broadcasting facilities, technology, talent and reach that beIN has across the entire 24-country MENA region – which is second to none. And we celebrated beIN’s long-standing and proud partnership with the Asian Games – which has already spanned from 2005 to 2026, and we hope for many years beyond,” he said.

“As Asian sport continues to lead by example and inspire the next generation on the world stage, there can be no greater partner than Doha – supported by all the sports institutions of Qatar – on this amazing journey,” he added.

The Evaluation Commission visit concluded with a press conference in which Evaluation Committee Chair Kryukov and member Vinod Kumar Tiwari attended on behalf of the OCA, it added.