Imagine my surprise this morning when the Asian Games made the early morning sports report!
There was the Man from the BBC huffing down a wide road with the Torch Relay people before interviewing that woman archer, who is Qatar’s most famous female sportswoman; she is also a pretty good rally driver.
Am I sorry I’m not there? Maybe a tiny bit – but I then collect myself and remember what this is all about: a vanity project on behalf of a tiny country of 900,000 people, only 200,000 of them local, who aspire to hosting the 2016 Olympic Games. Otherwise all those big stadiums and elaborately constructed sports grounds will return to the sand, which is the only renewable natural resource abundantly available in this strange little country.
Looking back after three months, there is one thing that does impress me and that is the energy of the women I met. The men faff around in their head-dresses and pristine-white thobes. They drink coffee, smoke and gossip. They go to the Western-style hotels to drink alcohol and pick up women. They are truly the idle rich and proof positive that too much money is utterly corrupting.
Some of the women are not much better; devoting their time to spending the husband or father’s money in the designer shops of the huge malls. But others are interesting, such as Sarah, Mariam and the rest of the women, whose job was to promote the Games and sport among children. They are loving the challenge thrown up by the Games, and hopefully won’t be allowed to retreat back into their houses and behind their veils. All societies need the yin and yang of men and women, equal in status, working together. Look at the Middle East generally – way too much untempered testosterone out there.
To his credit, the Emir promotes and encourages the clever women, such as his wife Sheika Moussa, and his daughter, who is big in business circles(even if it helps to be called Al Thani…). It throws up an interesting concept: does the Emir, who is American-educated, realise that the menfolk of his small state are now utterly useless and that the only hope lies with the women?
One final thought: with London 2012 turning into a financial disaster, maybe the Olympics should be given to a place like Qatar? Indeed, give it to them permanently!
*See the Irish snooker website for pics of Geraldine McGillavary, who has been in charge of cue sports for the Games, carrying the torch(torch bearer No 69!). PJ Nolan from Carlow is coach to the Qatar team for the past three years, while Ray Power is out visiting (and taking v.good pics).
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