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Cricket, chess likely for Doha Games

By Our Special Correspondent

BUSAN Oct. 13. Cricket and chess along with Korush, a popular sport in Central Asia, are likely to be included into the competition schedule of the 15th Asian Games to be held in Doha, Qatar, from December 1 to 15, 2006.

Though unwilling to confirm the inclusion of these events, the Doha Asian Games Organising Committee president, Sheik Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, told a press conference here on Sunday that the disciplines to be included would be decided after considering their popularity among the people of Qatar in general and Doha in particular.

A final decision in this regard, he said, would be made only early next year after due consultations with the Olympic Council of Asia. ``However, I can confirm that there would be only 33 disciplines in the competition schedule at Doha.''

Sheik Thani said 44 venues, for both training and competitive purposes, were being readied for the successful conduct of the Games. ``We have around 14 of them ready by now. And we hope to get ready the remaining by the time we host the West Asian Games in 2005. The West Asian Games would give us the opportunity to test our readiness to host the 2006 Games.''

The DAGOC president said though there were some restrictions in his country regarding dress code for women, it would not apply to the competitors. ``We will follow the IOC regulations in this regard and none need have any apprehensions about such things.''

Sheik Thani, promising the best of facilities for the media during the Games, said the athletes and the media would have little logistical problems when compared to the problems they faced in Busan. ``Doha is small city when compared to Busan. Most of the venues will be within walking distance. But I should say, from what I have seen, that the organisers here have been extremely meticulous with their preparations. It will be a hard task for us to emulate them.''

Asked whether the DAGOC had promised free travel, board and lodging for all those athletes and officials attending the Games, before Doha's candidature was accepted by the OCA, Sheik Thani said, ``we have never promised anyone anything. We will be going by the rules in this regard.''

Sheik Thani said the experience of hosting several international events through the last few years was expected to stand the DAGOC in good stead. ``We may lack the experience of hosting such a big venture as the Asian Games. But we are hopeful of hosting it successfully. We are taking every effort to run the Games smoothly. Being the first Games to be held in a Arab country, we hope the Games as such would have special significance to the rest of the world.''

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