Qatar 2006 | George Filev

Let the games begin!!!

30 Nov 2006 02:19 Filed in: Qatar 2006
Hello all. Last time I wrote we were still waiting to get into the stadium. We have been working hard on putting the show together and it is going to be an amazing spectacle. It is the first time in history that the Asian games have been held in an Arab country and they are pulling out all stops to make a huge impact.

Over 20,000 costumes have been made so you can imagine the number of people working on this project. IT'S HUGE! It is the biggest show in the world. It has all been paid for by the Amir Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani who runs the country. A rumor has it that the total cost of staging the games will be recovered from one week of oil trading. I don't know if that is true but it would be amazing if it was.

I saw a glimpse of the Amir yesterday as he drove past in a convoy of BMW's. The roads were all blocked off by his private police prior to his arrival at the intersection and reopened after he passed. The stadium is named after him, Khalifa Stadium.

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His heir apparent, the Amir's son, will be doing something very special in the opening ceremony that has to be seen, to be believed.

Most of the stuff I am performing on is suspended for the top of the worlds largest video screen. This is also the reason most of the rehearsals have been running late. The screen was very late in being built.

We are one day out from the opening and there are still elements of the show that have not been rehearsed fully. Flying things are crashing into ground-based things and the stress is being felt in many departments.

All that said, we had a great dress rehearsal last night and all I can say is set those video recorders (SBS 2pm on 2nd December) and look out for me.

I was walking behind some people the other day in the compound at the stadium and I over heard one say to the other, "Have you done anything interesting today?" This was straight after I did this....

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I had a bit of a chuckle to myself and came to the conclusion that I love my job. I mean it's not everyday you get to do this kind of thing...

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You may think I have been on holiday up till now and to tell you the truth it has felt like one, what with the sun-baking and swimming and going on desert trips and boat rides but I am making up for it now.

On the other hand I did get some time to visit the Old Souk , (a bazaar in the heart of Doha), and it was an interesting place.

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This old dude gives donkey rides to kids. Apparently the donkey is a national treasure.

There was also a falconry where you can buy your very own live falcon!

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We stopped at a nice little café Ahel Sharq Café for a bite to eat.

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There were all sorts of things you could buy in the market stalls like fresh spices, carved boats, rugs, trinkets, jewelry and perfumes along with traditional clothes and hardware items.

Around the corner from here there was a shisha bar where you could sit back while sipping on tea and sucking on shisha, blowing out fruit scented smoke while listening to traditional live music.

I, of course, gave the shisha a miss but the fruit drinks were divine.

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So I have given you a glimpse of what to expect with the ceremony, naughty me, don't tell anyone ok. Make sure you look out for me riding a rocket and a giant camera as well.

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Till then.....

Much love,

ROCKET MAN

(George)

xxxooo

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