Qatar’s newest addition to its museums — the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum — is now officially open. It is a centre for domestic and international sports history, the very first of its kind in the Middle East.
Speaking at the opening yesterday, Qatar Museums Chairperson H E Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani said the facility is the very first museum in the region that is dedicated to achievement in sports, to exploring the profound role of sports in society and in our personal lives, and is the only Arab institution to join the international Olympic Museums Network.
The museum offers an unforgettable and inspiring interactive journey through the history and legacy of sports worldwide and the Olympic Games. The vibe of sports is evident at the entrance wherein the pathway is a running track with numbers 3-2-1.
In a press conference held on Tuesday, H E Sheikha Al Mayassa said: “We have a long and rich history in sports in Qatar, that story is part of this museum, as so too the stories of athletic achievements throughout the world. That is why when you walk through the galleries you will be able to trace history of sports in each region of the world from ancient Olympic games to today.”
The museum also features works of art through the galleries “because sports has always permeated every part of life from arts and education to commerce and industry,” she emphasised.
Among the iconic displays the public can notice include the trophy won by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani when he was a tennis champion, Nawal El Moutawakel’s jumpsuit from 1984 Olympics who won the inaugural Olympic women’s 400m hurdles final and the first Moroccan athlete and first Muslim woman to claim an Olympic Gold.
Mohammad Ali’s boxing gloves in 1960, Formula 1 Ferrari that Michael Schumacher drove in 2000 when he won his first Ferrari title, Steffi Graf’s tennis racket that she used in the French Open, and a car driven by Qatar’s Nasser Al Attiyah, a World Rally Champion, to name a few.
One notable and the most interactive section of the museum is called “Activation Zone.” It aims to promote sports across Qatar, inspire future talent, and encourage the adoption of healthy and active lifestyle by all. In here, visitors’ physical literacy journey begins. The arena encompasses the park, desert, market, city and beach, where people can complete as many interactive challenges as they can using the 3-2-1 tag.
A lifestyle advice and guidance area is also provided by partner Aspetar on healthy choice when eating out, and on diet and nutrition.
The museum is designed by Spanish architect Joan Sibina. It comprises two buildings: a main structure that follows the arc of the Stadium, and an attached round access building inspired by the Olympic rings. It has seven gallery spaces including the Activation Zone which are all located at the seventh floor.
3-2-1, ready, set, go. Here’s a quick tour of the museum.
First gallery is the “World of Emotion” which is the reception area and lobby, it provides an overview of the Museum’s themes and the central role of sports in Qatar. This is followed by “A Global History of Sport,” a journey through the history of sports across the globe from ancient to modern times — from the 8th century BCE to the early 20th century.
The third gallery is “Olympics” which takes visitors from the ancient Olympic Games through to the birth of the modern Olympics and their growth and significance today. It features a display of every torch from the Summer and Winter Olympic Games from 1936 onwards.
The museum along with Olympic Museum in Lausanne, Switzerland, are the only two museums worldwide that contain full set of Olympic Games torches.
The said gallery also features an Olympic Theatre wherein it plays an immersive video that tells the story of the birth of the modern Olympics and introduces the geopolitical, social, and technological factors that enabled individuals.
“The Hall of Athletes” gallery is a celebration of 90 sporting heroes from around the world. Fourth gallery is “Qatar – Hosting Nation” which explores how the mega sports events hosted by Qatar in recent decades have become a matter of global fascination and national pride.
And the “Qatar Sports” spotlights the inspiring story of the development of sports in Qatar, from traditional games through to the arrival of international sport and the development of international competitions.
Entry to the museum is free of charge and visit can be booked via Qatar Museums website.
