QMA Exhibition Narrates Olympics and Media Evolution Story at Katara

Doha, July 03 (QNA) - Qatar Museums Authority (QMA) is presenting a unique sports exhibition showcasing the simultaneous evolution of the Olympic Movement and the media from the first big games hosted by Athens in 1896 to the post modern era, at the Katara Cultural Village here. The 68-day long exhibition titled 'Olympics Through Media', featuring exhibits capturing the historical highs and lows of the of Olympics and the technical progress of the visual media tools, opens Wednesday for public viewing after its official inauguration Tuesday evening. Speaking at a media conference held this morning, officials said the exhibition, organised and presented by two departments within the QMA, under the guidance of HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Chairperson of QMA Board of Trustees, showcases the evolution and the spirit of the games as well as to celebrate the 30th Olympics, opening July 27 in London. Officials from the QMA, the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (QOSM) and Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) addressed the media at Katara's QMA Gallery, Building 10 where the exhibition is being held. QOC Assistant Secretary General for Administrative Support Meshal Al Khalifa said, "Qatar is very proud to host this unique exhibition which tells the story of the growth and development of the Olympics and the media. Sports is not merely about kicking around a ball or taking a walk at the Corniche. It is far more than this. It is a complete philosophy which educates and engages people socially and culturally beyond sport." In his address to the media, QMA Museum Manager Nicholas Couts said, "This exhibition displays important historical artifacts and visual materials sourced from the QOSM and QMA's media collection, including some from 1896 when the first Olympics was staged 116 years ago." Speaking to Qatar News Agency (QNA), QOSM Director and Chief Curator Dr Christian Wacker said, "The objects on display are a parallel sports and media story line compiled by our researchers and a team from the QMA's media collection. "At the exhibition we are screening 25 films, including one recorded prior to the first Olympics feat. It is a rare 10-second black and white film of a boxing bout between Corbett and Courtney that took place on September 7, 1894." The exhibition is "like a mini sports film festival, capturing the highs and lows of the Olympic movement including the performance-enhancing drugs scandal involving sprinter Ben Johnson during the 1988 Olympics held in Seoul, South Korea", he said. An extensive educational programme complements the exhibition with a children's lounge, video game competitions and a children holiday programme called Light and Shadow that will run from July 8 to 19 and from August 26 to September 6. "These activities for children will teach them about the history of the Olympics and the media's development. it will be a fun and interactive way of learning about the Games, the sports stars and their success stories," said Dr Wacker, an ex-Alpine skier from Munich now based in Doha. The exhibitors have arranged guided tours to give deeper insights in the Olympic movement and four gallery lectures by experts covering the following topics: Televisual Technology at 1936 Olympics, Women and Media at the Olympics; Cinema and Olympics; Internationalism, Peace and Media. The exhibition's opening hours are from 9am to 12pm and 5pm to 10pm during the week and from 7pm to 12 midnight on Friday. During Ramadan the opening hours will be from 9am to 12pm and 7pm to 12am from Saturday to Thursday and from 7pm to 12am on Friday. Admission to the exhibition and access to educational activities is free of charge, Dr Wacker added. (QNA)