Doha 2030 to provide Gateway to legacy now for OCA family

The Doha 2030 Asian Games Bid Committee today 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.

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.

Doha 2030 President HE Sheikh Joaan Bin Hamad Al-Thani said:

"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.

"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. 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."

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.

Doha 2030 CEO HE Mr Jassim Rashid Al-Buenain added:

"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."

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. Yousef Al-Obaidly, CEO of beIN MEDIA GROUP 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. 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."

The Evaluation Commission visit concluded with a press conference for Qatari and

international media that was streamed live. Evaluation Committee Chair Mr Kryukov and

Evaluation Committee member Vinod Kumar Tiwari attended on behalf of the OCA.

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