21 venues to be used for Doha Asian Games

THE organisers have prepared 21 venues in Doha and its surroundings to host the 39 events of the 15th Asian Games. 

Central to the Games and their events is Doha’s Sport City complex, which includes the redeveloped Khalifa Stadium, which will host the track and field events, as well as the opening and closing ceremonies. 

The Sport City, 8km west of Doha, is also home to the state-of-the-art Aspire Academy of Sports Excellence Indoor Complex. 

BEAUTIFUL SIGHT: An aerial view of the 50,000-capacity Khalifa Stadiumin Doha. – BERNAMApix

·KHALIFA STADIUM 

ORIGINALLY opened in 1976, Khalifa Stadium underwent a major upgrade ahead of the Doha Asian Games. 

A new running track was installed in May last year while seating capacity was expanded from 20,000 to 50,000. A new tensile fabric roof structure has been built over the western seating and a spectacular arch added to the east. 

With a span of 265m, the arch uses gravity to create tension in its supporting stay cables in order to appear as if floating in mid-air. 

It will host the Dec 1 opening ceremonies and the athletics events from Dec 8-12. 

·ASPIRE ACADEMY FOR SPORTS EXCELLENCE 

THE Aspire Indoor Sports Complex features seven halls that will host track cycling, gymnastics, badminton, wushu, kabaddi, wrestling and boxing events. 

A night view of the Khalifa Stadium. – BERNAMApix

The 73,000 sq metre venue designed by French architect Roger Taillibert is touted by Games organisers as the largest multi-purpose indoor sports dome in the world. 

Part of the Sports City sporting facilities precinct, the venue also houses a 6,000-seat soccer stadium and Olympic-sized swimming and diving pools. 

Opened in November 2005, it is primarily used by the Aspire Sporting Academy, which was launched in 2004. During the Asian Games, Aspire’s indoor athletics stadium will host the artistic, rhythmic and trampoline gymnastics events, while a temporary velodrome has been built on the indoor soccer pitch for track cycling. 

·HAMAD AQUATIC CENTRE 

THE three-storey Hamad Aquatic Centre, host to the swimming, diving and synchronised swimming events, has undergone a significant facelift ahead of the Asian Games. 

It features two Olympic-sized swimming pools and two diving pools. The main pool area seats more than 2,000 spectators. 

The swimming events begin on Dec 2 with diving from Dec 10. 

·THE OTHER VENUES 

Corniche: Marathon, road cycling events and walk. 

Basketball Indoor Hall in Sport City 

Sport City Temporary Site: Beach volleyball and cross-country portion of the equestrian three-day event. 

Al-Arabi Sports Club: Soccer, rugby Sevens, fencing and table tennis. 

Al-Gharrafa Sports Club: Soccer and handball. 

Al-Khor Road Course: Individual and team cycling time trials. 

Al-Rayyan Sports Club: Soccer, baseball, softball, hockey and volleyball. 

Al-Sadd Sports Club: Waterpolo, sepaktakraw, cue sports and soccer. 

Doha Golf Club 

Doha Racing and Equestrian Club 

Doha Sailing Club 

Khalifa International Tennis and Squash Complex 

Lusail Shooting Complex: Shooting and archery. 

Mesaieed Endurance Course: Equestrian. 

Qatar Bowling Centre 

Qatar Sports Club: Soccer. 

West Bay Lagoon: Canoeing, kayak and rowing. 

Al-Dana Club: Weightlifting, chess and bodybuilding tournaments. – AP