Arab games exhibition in Katara on Wednesday

Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) is organizing the Arab Games Exhibition, which will open to the public from October 5th – December 23rd, 2011, at the QMA Gallery in Katara. The exhibit coincides with Arab Games Doha 2011 - the 12th version of the Arab Games, which will be held in Qatar from December 9th – 23rd, 2011. The exhibition is an effort of the Qatar Olympic & Sports Museum at QMA, supported by its partners Qatar Olympic Committee and Egyptian Olympic Committee. Demonstrating a chronological narrative of the Games, the exhibition will feature items from the games, including medals, posters, programs, films and interviews of athletes, photographs, and educational activities that inform visitors about the history of the Arab Games, which first took place in Alexandria, Egypt, back in 1953. The Arab Games exhibition serves as a unique display which walks visitors through the history of one of the region’s most anticipated sporting and cultural celebrations. The exhibition is divided into five sections, each portraying different periods of the Arab Games since their inception in 1947. The first section showcases the political agenda behind the concept of the Arab Games. This was followed by an era of Egyptian regional leadership. Then, a period of decline affected the consistency of the Games from 1965 to 1985 because of political turmoil in several Arab countries. A re-organization of the Arab Games with a new vision later started to emerge, eventually leading to the transformation of the Arab Games into a world-class stage for Arab athletes to perform. In addition, the Arab Games Exhibition sheds light on the participation and achievements of Qatari athletes in past Arab Games, showcasing some of their trophies, medals, and pictures. Alongside the exhibition, a series of educational activities catering to school children from various age groups are also planned during the exhibition period. Commenting on the importance of this exhibition, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums Authority stated: "The Qatar Museums Authority, with its responsibility to collect, restore, exhibit and educate, also recognizes its role in preserving the sports history and heritage of the Arab world."