by Sarmad Qazi A group of young Qataris yesterday launched a website detailing the lineup of events marking the Qatar National Day 2009. Powered by iloveqatar.net (ILQ) and telecom service provider, Vodafone Qatar, nationalday2009.com gives the most comprehensive breakdown of festivities and celebrations that will take place across the peninsula in the days leading up to the National Day on Friday. “The partnership behind the website was motivated by the shared desire by iLoveQatar.net and Vodafone Qatar to just simplify life,” ILQ chief executive officer Khalifa Saleh Haroon yesterday told Gulf Times. The site also features downloadable content such as National Day wallpapers, ring-tones, and an exclusive track by young Qatari artist Rayyana. “We also invite everyone to the Aspire Park on Friday from 10am-8pm to enjoy free Qatari food, chocolates, some fun giveaways including balloons, stickers, flags, sparklers, music, entertainment, bouncy castles, face painting, henna artists, and more,” Haroon said. Meanwhile, as part of the Qatar National Day 2009 celebrations, the State National Day Celebrations Organising Committee (SNDCOC) yesterday announced two special photography competitions at the Darb-a-Saai Camp and National Day Parade venues. While the competitions were kicked off at the Darb-a-Saai Camp in Rayyan on Saturday and end on Thursday, those at the National Day Parade will be held at the Corniche on Friday. The five prizes in both competitions include Qatar Airways tickets in various flight classes. “Those interested should decide which of the two competitions they want to participate in while applications can be made at the Darb-a-Saai Camp (Rawda Umm Rouman in Al Rayyan),” the official said. Entries can be presented at the Camp also or sent via e-mail to [email protected], with a participant’s name, mobile telephone number and ID number, official said. Meanwhile, Qatar’s first cultural symposium tomorrow and on Wednesday at the Sheraton Doha Resort and Convention Hotel will debate how the country is maintaining its heritage, culture and traditions amidst rapid modernisation, according to the official. The two-day symposium, “Modernisation and the Preservation of Tradition” is expected to offer leading Qatari governmental, educational and cultural speakers a platform to connect the generational gap. The first session tomorrow, ‘Culture…Society’s Mirror’ will set the nationalist tone with high-profile speakers including HE the Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari, researcher Sheikh Khalid bin Mohamed bin Ghanim al-Thani, and the ministry’s Heritage Committee head Hamad al-Mahdi taking the mike. Women’s traditional place in Qatari society and its conflict with the modern world kicks off the Symposium’s second day (Wednesday) as a session entitled “Qatari Woman: an unwavering giver” headed by Social Development Center general manager Aamal al-Mannai presents speakers Hamad Medical Corporation Medical Labs director Dr Ajayeb al-Merri, Qatar University Education dean Prof Hassah Sadek and former UN Special Rapporteur on Disability HE Sheikha Hessa bint Khalifa al-Thani. Another session, “Horizons of Education and Social Development” will present insights from speakers HE the Minister of Education and Higher Education Saad bin Ibrahim al-Mahmoud, Dr Abdul Rahman Otbah and Dr Khamees bin Rashed al-Kaabi into how the country supports its citizens to improve educational standards and transform social structures. The final session “Social Life Aspects in Qatar” will see international guest speakers Dr Annie Montigny and Dr Claire Hardy Guilbert present evidence of early Qatari history from their field studies in remote areas of Qatar. Separately, Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) said yesterday it is participating in preparing a documentary commissioned by the SNDCOC. The Authority also urged all hotel and establishments in Qatar to host programmes reflecting the day, including wearing national dress and decorating their locations. “QTA offices will be decorated in celebration of this anniversary with flags and slogans,” an official said. As the Platinum Sponsor for the Qatar National Day 2009 celebrations, Barwa Real Estate Company (Barwa) yesterday said the company’s sponsorship emanates from its strong commitment to support national events. Barwa Group Communication director Mohamed al-Sada said: “In Qatar we all are partners in living the present and achieving the future, we share the responsibility towards Qatar’s unity and prosperity, and delivering its leading humanitarian message to all nations.” At the Standard Chartered on Wednesday at 2pm, there will be presentation on Qatar by its Public Relations head Abdulla al-Tamimi, followed by a traditional Qatari lunch with music and performance by local children and prizes. http://gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=331791&version=1&template_id=36&parent_id=16

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