'Doha 2006' Games to be best ever
 

by Sampath Bandara

The 15 Asian Games titled 'Doha 2006' will be the best and biggest ever Games said Ahmed Abdulla Al - Khulaifi, Deputy Director General Organising Committee Doha 2006" at media briefing had at the Taj Samudra Hotel, yesterday.

Over 2.8 billion US dollars has been allocated to make the Games from December 1-15 a grand success. The games will have 39 competitive sports and 412 events, 10,500 athletes and team officials from 45 countries in Asia will be present Targeted number of volunteers will be 15.000.

The games is being held in the Gulf Region for the first time. Chess and Triathlon will be new sports event added to the games according to Ahmed Abdulla. The Games is the largest multisport event in Asia and the second in the world after the Summer Olympic Games. Host City Doha is capital city of Quatar it is known as the city of balance and is also are of the fastest developing cities in the world.

Doha 2006 will see up to 3000 press representatives and nearly 47 countries are expected to take TV coverage with an estimated TV audience of 1.5 billion viewers.

Opening and closing ceremonies will be held at the magnificent Khalifa Stadium a 50,000 seat first class sporting stadium with 700 days more to the event.

Sri Lanka National Olympic Committee President Hemasiri Fernando said that Sri Lanka will participate with over 150 athletes in this important sporting event and he said chess and the sport of Triathion will be introduced to the Asian Games for the first time.