Mark
17-11-05, 07:20
Qatar to unveil world’s largest indoor sports dome today
Web posted at: 11/17/2005 3:34:8
Source ::: The Peninsula
From left: Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani with Pele (left) and Diego Maradona (right) on arrival at Doha International Airport yesterday.
DOHA: Under the patronage of the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha, is all set to unveil today the scale and scope of its new sports dome, the largest indoor facility of its kind in the world.
The opening will be marked with the Middle East’s biggest-ever celebration of sporting achievement, attended by legendary sports stars such as Pelé and Diego Maradona, Olympic delegations from over 80 countries, representatives from other major sports federations such as the International Association of Athletics Federations, and a number of local dignitaries.
Among the highlights of the opening event include an impressive display by local Qatari schoolchildren and a beautiful series of performances by the internationally renowned Cirque du Soleil.
The Dome is a landmark development for Qatar and the region. Covering an astounding 290,000 square metres of ground space and standing at an impressive 46 meters high, it seats 15,000 spectators. Designed by Roger Taillibert – the architect behind the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris and the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada – the Dome was constructed over two years, from conception through to its grand opening to be held today.
The state-of-the-art steel structure houses an Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving area, a 200-meter athletics track, a gymnastics hall, a games hall, a full-sized football field and a five-a-side pitch, 11 tennis courts, 13 table tennis courts, , eight fencing strips, two squash courts and a wood-floored judo and karate studio. Under the Dome’s distinctive sloping roof and the mesmerizing Academy, there are also lecture halls, classrooms, science laboratories, dormitories, a library, an amphitheater and a medical center.
Dr Thomas Flock, director general of ASPIRE, said: “The ASPIRE Dome is a milestone for the sporting world, and provides a source of inspiration for athletes, in Qatar and across this region, inspiring talented children and developing their skills to enable them to perform on the world’s stage.”
Web posted at: 11/17/2005 3:34:8
Source ::: The Peninsula
From left: Qatar Football Association President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Thani with Pele (left) and Diego Maradona (right) on arrival at Doha International Airport yesterday.
DOHA: Under the patronage of the Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha, is all set to unveil today the scale and scope of its new sports dome, the largest indoor facility of its kind in the world.
The opening will be marked with the Middle East’s biggest-ever celebration of sporting achievement, attended by legendary sports stars such as Pelé and Diego Maradona, Olympic delegations from over 80 countries, representatives from other major sports federations such as the International Association of Athletics Federations, and a number of local dignitaries.
Among the highlights of the opening event include an impressive display by local Qatari schoolchildren and a beautiful series of performances by the internationally renowned Cirque du Soleil.
The Dome is a landmark development for Qatar and the region. Covering an astounding 290,000 square metres of ground space and standing at an impressive 46 meters high, it seats 15,000 spectators. Designed by Roger Taillibert – the architect behind the Parc des Princes Stadium in Paris and the Olympic Stadium in Montreal, Canada – the Dome was constructed over two years, from conception through to its grand opening to be held today.
The state-of-the-art steel structure houses an Olympic-sized swimming pool and diving area, a 200-meter athletics track, a gymnastics hall, a games hall, a full-sized football field and a five-a-side pitch, 11 tennis courts, 13 table tennis courts, , eight fencing strips, two squash courts and a wood-floored judo and karate studio. Under the Dome’s distinctive sloping roof and the mesmerizing Academy, there are also lecture halls, classrooms, science laboratories, dormitories, a library, an amphitheater and a medical center.
Dr Thomas Flock, director general of ASPIRE, said: “The ASPIRE Dome is a milestone for the sporting world, and provides a source of inspiration for athletes, in Qatar and across this region, inspiring talented children and developing their skills to enable them to perform on the world’s stage.”