They say it only rains for two or three days a year here in the searing heat of the desert in Qatar – so that will be today, yesterday and the day before then!
Heading off to the opening ceremony of the 15th Asian Games through flooded Doha streets (the capital city) was not on the carefully planned agenda. But who cares, the whole place – indeed the whole of the Middle East and much of Asia seems to be Games-crazy.
It may not hit the headlines too much back at home, but make no mistake - this is huge - and yet another reminder of the power of major games to energise and excite vast audiences.
Despite the rain, Doha is ignited by a flaming torch
Bill, Culture, Events and Education chief, 1 Dec 2006
It all started with the Asian Games Torch Relay. These last few months the torch has travelled almost 40,000 miles across this vast continent. I saw it first a month ago in Beijing when we were out there starting to plan the London handover ceremony.
Since then it has excited millions of people on its way back home to Qatar earlier this week. On Wednesday I joined a slightly anarchic convoy of people as it weaved its way through the fast changing streets of Doha.
It represents the most amazing logistical challenge and I’m in awe of the team that keeps it running day after day, street after street, vast crowd after vast crowd. There is something primeval about the simple message of a flaming torch – it transcends language, culture and national borders – and it’s made me think all the more about the wonderful opportunity we’ll have with the London torch in 2012.
The culmination of the relay was earlier tonight when the same flame arrived in the Kalifa Stadium. The opening ceremony and the cauldron itself were amongst the most astonishing I’ve ever seen – a mix of cutting edge, big bucks technology and elegant Arab myth.
It climaxed with a fine Arabian stallion galloping up the steepest face of an enormous grandstand, its rider hanging on to horse and flaming torch to ignite not just the cauldron, but a gasping crowd and the whole of the fifteenth Asian Games.
How I wish I could stay on for the closing ceremony in two weeks time, but a 4am check-in at the airport beckons…..
Since then it has excited millions of people on its way back home to Qatar earlier this week. On Wednesday I joined a slightly anarchic convoy of people as it weaved its way through the fast changing streets of Doha.
It represents the most amazing logistical challenge and I’m in awe of the team that keeps it running day after day, street after street, vast crowd after vast crowd. There is something primeval about the simple message of a flaming torch – it transcends language, culture and national borders – and it’s made me think all the more about the wonderful opportunity we’ll have with the London torch in 2012.
The culmination of the relay was earlier tonight when the same flame arrived in the Kalifa Stadium. The opening ceremony and the cauldron itself were amongst the most astonishing I’ve ever seen – a mix of cutting edge, big bucks technology and elegant Arab myth.
It climaxed with a fine Arabian stallion galloping up the steepest face of an enormous grandstand, its rider hanging on to horse and flaming torch to ignite not just the cauldron, but a gasping crowd and the whole of the fifteenth Asian Games.
How I wish I could stay on for the closing ceremony in two weeks time, but a 4am check-in at the airport beckons…..
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Comments for this post:
5 Dec 2006, timhagyard said:
london is a world city and these games were chosen and then marred by the hatred of terrorism. the games can respond to this by showing the strength and unity of the city - how about a london choir of children from every nation of earth - must be possible - they say there are 300 home languages spoken in London.
5 Dec 2006, Deepan K said:
Yes,certainly. I, too, watched the Opening Ceremony 'Live' from Singapore. Though, it was from 12mn to 3 am, the show was just so splendid that it kept me awake the whole time.
The Athens 2004 Opening Ceremony, like many other Summer & Winter ceremonies, concentrated on its culture and encapsulated thousands of years of Greek history beautifully within a few hours.
The Doha ceremony managed to do the same, but in this case, additionally merging the very many varying Asian cultures together with its own Qatari history so well that I am almost certain everyone who watched it felt that they couls relate to at least one part of the show.
Being from Singapore, a multi-racial country where equal importance and understanding is given to all cultures and their practices, I could relate to almost every segment of the show.
The Lighting of the cauldron was just heart-stopping, with the horseman persevering up the slope to reach the cauldron to light it. The fireworks display was just as spectacular, perfectlly syncronised with the upbeat, modern Qatari tune in the background also reminding me of the fantastic Athens 2004 firework display.
In just 5 days of competition, China has already garnered 38 gold medals, a remarkable feat, in face of stiff competition against Asian giants like South Korea and Japan. This is THE dress rehersal for its showing at Beijing 2008. So, watch out for China!
3 Dec 2006, spiritofstlouis said:
I LOVED the way you're trying to get lessons from this sports event!
I'm so excited ,and i'm sure London games will be ,more than Asian games,the best ! I'm Confident.
3 Dec 2006, yrazlan said:
I saw the opening live on tv and indeed it was a spectacular opening ceremony.The climax was when the horse climb to great height for the torch bearer to ignite the games falme.Awesome.