(ATR) Doha 2020 lays down a challenge to the other four applicant cities for the Olympics, unveiling plans Monday to host Games that offer the Olympic Movement potential to grow sport and commercial revenues in uncharted territory.
"We have the determination and resources to meet every responsibility," Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, general Secretary of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Doha 2020 vice chairman, told an audience gathered at the Aspire Zone for the unveiling of the applicant file's contents.
Al-Thani said the Qatari capital and the Gulf state as a whole had rapidly evolved to offer significant opportunities for the Olympics.
"Change is in the air," he said, noting Doha's aims to change the perception of the region and leave a lasting sporting legacy for its younger generation.
"We are bringing the Olympic Movement a new potential in the growth of sport and in commercial terms," he added.
Doha 2020 revealed that it proposes to stage the 2020 Olympics from Oct. 2 to 18. The Paralympics are slated for Nov. 4 to 15 in the applicant file.
"This ensures ideal weather conditions for athletes, media and spectators alike," said Fahad Juma, who led the process to compile Doha’s applicant file.
The IOC approved the October proposal, which falls outside of the normal Olympics window, prior to the start of the 2020 bidding contest.
But Monday was the first time the dates were officially confirmed.
As well as trumpeting the legacy benefits of the Olympics on Qatar and the Middle East, the bid emphasized its compact Games plan.
Doha 2020's bid embraces five sports zones.
Juma said that "one of the most distinctive parts of the bid" wasthat travel times for athletes would be kept to a minimum.On average, athletes would have to journey 21 minutes between the Olympic Village and their competition venue, he said.
He indicated that travel times may be cut further by 2020 with the arrival of new transport infrastructure; Doha’s new $21 billion metro system will link to 78 percent of all sports venues.
Statistics rolled out by the bid Monday included that 91 percent of sports venues are already built or planned and budgeted for as part of the Qatar National Vision 2030. The remainder of competitionvenues will be temporary structures.
Juma announced that the opening and closing ceremonies are slated to take place at the new Lusail National Stadium, venue for the opening match and final of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
He also revealed that three million tickets for Doha's Olympics – almost half of all Games tickets – would be priced less than $25.
Commenting on accommodation, always a burning issue for the IOC, he noted that 60,000 hotel rooms are earmarked for the Olympic Family, athletes, officials and visitors.
Qatar’s most accomplished Olympian, Nasser Al Attiyah, who is scheduled to appear in his fifth Olympic Games this summer, claimed Doha 2020 would set a new benchmark for Olympic host cities and the experience of athletes. "The location of the athletes’ village, the fast travel times between venues, and the quality of the facilities really stand out for me," he said.
Reported by Mark Bisson
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