Doha to host Asian Sailing Games

by IBI Magazine on 12 Aug 2006 With just four months to go before the start of the Asian Games in December 2006, Doha is readying itself for the biggest sporting event ever to be held in the region. Orry, the official mascot for the games, is modelled on the Arabian Oryx, a medium-sized antelope that is exceptionally well adapted to life in the desert. Orry is depicted with giant graphics on buildings all over the city promoting the different sports. Sailing is featured on the Rydges Plaza building.

Local business Regatta Sailing Academy has been active in helping with the organisation of the sailing events, including the choice of the regatta classes and initial planning for the event and has also supplied boats and equipment for the games.

According to general manager Mike Lawton, 'We have supplied 58 Laser dinghies, 13 Ziegelmeyer 470s and 21 Ziegelmeyer 420s with two years spare parts and 40 sets of North sails.' Regatta Sailing runs a sailing school using 50 small boats varying from Optimist dinghies to Dart 16 catamarans from the Intercontinental Hotel.

Doha is the capital of the State of Qatar, now one of the richest countries in the world due to a vast natural gas field which is just coming on stream. The revenue from gas is being used to develop the country into other areas, including a heavy bias on tourism and the establishment of the national airline, Qatar Airways.

Two new marina complexes have opened in the past two years and are already full with leisure boats. The vast Pearl development being built from reclaimed land will have three marinas with a total capacity of over 1,000 berths and will open within two years.