Athletes Village a modern medical facility after Asiad

(Contributor)
DOHA, Qatar — Even as Doha 2006 has yet to open its gates to participants of the 15th Asian Games, it has already finalized plans on what to do with the ultra-modern Athletes Village after the Asian Games — convert it to a state-of-art medical facility.

The $600 million residential project, which consists of 811 flats, a state-of-the-art medical center, a massive dining area, cinema hall, gym, mosque and parking facilities for at least 2,500 cars and 70 shuttle buses, will be transformed into one of the largest medical facilities in Asia by January.

Some 4,000 volunteers will test the AV facilities, which will be fully secured and operational in early November to make sure that it is ready for the arrival of delegations.

The Village will be modified to become part of Hamad Medical City early next year and will leave a legacy for the state of Qatar long after the Games are over.

Two days after the Games, the AV will be closed and customized for medical use before being handed over to Hamad Medical Corp. in phases.

Work began on the building in May 2004 and is on schedule, according to the plans laid out by the Doha Asian Games Organizing Committee (Dagoc).

The Village will host some 7,300 athletes and 3,000 officials during the 15th Asian Games slated Dec. 1-15.

The AV will open its gates on Nov. 15 but a week before, it will start receiving officials from various National Olympic Committees (NOCs) to give them the opportunity to complete their delegation registration meetings and ensure that the arrival and accommodations of their respective delegations are done smoothly.

Hamad Mohammed Al-Tamimi, director of the Athletes Village, said that construction work has been round the clock and that his team had not experienced any major delays.

He added that the local and international media have already been shown around the site to provide the public an update on the ongoing work.

"There is power in most parts of the compound. Landscaping is almost done and the massive dining hall is receiving final touches, while tarmac is being laid to give proper shape to the roads inside the facility," said Tamimi.

"Dagoc believes that the performance of any athlete depends heavily on how he or she relaxes off the field of play," he added. "We will try to ensure that they are taken care of at the Village and by our well-trained serving staff."

Aside from the comfortable accommodation and well-off catering facilities, which will offer an array of sumptuous Asian dishes, the AV has a retail center, local cultural village and athletes’ entertainment area, and will provide useful services such as post, banking and car rental for athletes during the Games.

According to Tamimi, the mission of the AV is to provide accommodation of high standard, a wide range of fully operational services and the warmest hospitality to all the athletes and team officials who will be participating in Asia’s biggest sporting spectacle dubbed as the "Games of your Life."