by Natasha Tynes | Mar 4, 2005 | Doha affairs, Sports
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Since I still can’t get over how ugly Orry is, I decided to take a picture with him just for the sake of it. For non-Qatari residents, Orry is the mascot that was chosen for the 2006 Asian Games that will be held in Doha. The organizers are proud of Orry:
Constructed over 40 days, the statue took no less than 400 litres of paint, nearly 8 tonnes of steel and 40 blocks of 2 x 8 x 16 foot polystyrene, to bring to life the embodiment and symbolic personality of the games.
This mammoth, hideous creature now occupies a very dominant place along Doha’s lovely Corniche. Right next to him is a huge digital clock counting down the number of days, hours and minutes remaining until the games begin. Neat idea, but Orry is just ugly, ugly, ugly!
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by Natasha Tynes | Feb 24, 2005 | Shutterbug, Sports
Dubai never ceases to amaze me. The pictures enlarge on click. Click here for a Burj al Arab reference.
In preparation for the Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open, tennis legend, Andre Agassi and the world No. 1, Roger Federer, couldn’t resist the temptation to have a friendly knock about on the world’s highest tennis court, the helipad of Burj Al Arab, the world’s most luxurious hotel. Both players are in Dubai to compete in the US$1 million Dubai Duty Free Men’s Open, which is the first round of the two-week Dubai Tennis Championships.
Source: [Burj Al Arab tennis] Via: [Boing Boing]
Is this cool or what? Will Dubai ever stop producing creative, out-of-this-world ideas? I doubt it. It really is fantasyland.
by Natasha Tynes | Feb 9, 2005 | Doha affairs, Shutterbug, Sports
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It’s nearly 9:30 PM here and I’m already beat! The reason is that I was spending a very pleasant day engaging in a sport in which I have never taken a real interest: Golf. As Ghalia is still in town we decided to spend the day doing something out of the norm (at least for us). So we, joined by Amal, made our way to the Doha Golf Club. It was loads of fun, not only because it was such a unique experience but also because the weather was extremely pleasant and the place itself was very lush — something we miss deeply living as we do in the desert.
I have always known that I was horrible at sports and today was just another reminder. All my husband’s relentless efforts to teach me to swing the golf club were useless. I’m just not in tune with my body, that’s a fact that I have to live with. Regardless of my frustrating efforts to swing that damn club I had a great time, especially after I put down the club for a bit and spent the day taking pictures of our adventure. Would I do it again? Oh yeah, in a heartbeat. Click the pictures for enlargements
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by Natasha Tynes | Jan 5, 2005 | Doha affairs, Sports

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This is the official mascot that was chosen for the Asian Games that will be held in Qatar in 2006. I personally think it is beyond hideous!
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by Natasha Tynes | Nov 6, 2004 | Sports

This is Carl Lambert, my cousin on Jeff’s side, skydiving. His hobby is discussed more in this link. Isn’t this just so cool? Though I must admit I would be too scared to do it.
by Natasha Tynes | Oct 8, 2004 | Sports
Sounds improbable, but Prince Faisal of Jordan thinks it could happen one day.
Jordan and Iraq are mulling a possible joint bid to stage soccer’s biggest showcase after 2014, the prince said Wednesday in The Times and Guardian newspapers.
"The situation at the moment would make any bid ludicrous," Prince Faisal was quoted as saying. "What will things be like in five years time? It could be a very prosperous nation. If the conditions are right, people will take it seriously."’
Soccer is hugely popular in Iraq, and the national soccer team reached the semifinals at the Olympic tournament in Athens. Because FIFA is rotating the World Cup around the world, the next opportunity for the Middle East, which comes under the Asian confederation, would be 2018.
Source: [TSN] Via: [And Far Away]
Could it happen? Maybe. Certainly if it did, it will make me a happy camper. Nothing breaks stereotypes like a good match of football!