More than 1000 male and female Qataris and residents have registered their interest in carrying the Qatari flag around the country as the second edition of Flag Relay on December 13 draws closer.

Organized by Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC), the event aims to share pride, unity and inspiration through Team Qatar in celebration of Qatar’s National Day five days later.

Current and retired Team Qatar athletes, schoolchildren, members from different communities and the public will carry the Qatari flag across the country’s iconic landmarks, transporting it towards a grand finale at Aspire Zone through several sporting activities such as walking, running, cycling, kayaking and swimming.

Flag Relay is also designed to send a message of motivation to the younger generations to take up sport as they see their heroes, who make the nation proud at international events, carry the flag while practicing their different sports.

The second edition of Flag Relay will see the organizers and participants attempt to break two Guinness World Records. The first record is for the most people in a cycling relay, which will start from Hamad International Airport to Meshereb Properties. QOC is working closely with Qatar Cycling Federation to include Team Qatar athletes and avid cyclists from the community.

Meanwhile, the second Guinness World Record attempt takes place at Oxygen Park, the green lung of Education City, and is for the most people running 100 meters in a 1-hour relay. The current record stands at 252 and was achieved in the United States in 2012.

QOC is working closely with Qatar Foundation in preparation to break this record with Team Qatar athletes and the public.

This year’s edition aims to highlight Qatar’s multiculturalism and unity by including expat participants. To do so, QOC has worked with the Foreign Ministry and foreign embassies to include expat communities in the flag relay in addition to Qatari students living in the United States, United Kingdom and France.

Together with the participants from the public and the different national federations, the QOC has selected several public figures to be ambassadors for this edition of the Flag Relay. They are passionate sport, cultural, art and adventure advocates from Qatar that will help carry the flag while delivering the messages of peace, solidarity and friendship across the country.

Each ambassador comes from a different background with a different goal and vision in mind. They have each given back to their country by achieving 'first time ever' to ski the North Pole, to climb Mount Everest, to run around Qatar, and the image that has become the symbol of Qatar and more. The QOC will announce the names of these ambassadors on its social media channels leading up the event.

Flag Relay 2018 will start at 6 a.m. at QOC Winter Camp in Sealine with the endurance team from Al Shaqab before the flag flies on a small plane to Qatar Racing Club. After that, the flag’s journey continues through several stops, including Hamad International Airport where flagbearers walk with the flag before the Guinness World Record in cycling is attempted.

Jogging, cycling and walking are among the other activities that will continue the maroon flag’s trip through Souq Waqif, Hamad Medical Corporation, the Museum of Islamic Art and Sheraton Park. After that, flagbearers will jog with the maroon flag and make a stop at Qatar Olympic Committee before carrying on to Katara, the Pearl and Qatar University via different activities, including driving, swimming, rowing and sailing.

Flagbearers will then kayak with the flag through Al Thakhira Mangroves and then continue by driving to Qatar Foundation where the participants will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest number of people running 100 meters in a 1-hour relay.

The penultimate stop for Flag Relay 2018 is at Qatar Football National Team Club from which flagbearers will walk to Aspire Park where the journey concludes with raising of the flag and a series of fun activities in celebration of Qatar National Day.

Besides celebrating the colours of the maroon flag and what it means for the country in terms of unity, pride and achievement, Flag Relay 2018 will raise awareness of cancer and promote the importance of early detection.

The initiative, carried out in collaboration with Qatar Cancer Society, aims to empower those living with cancer and advocate scientific research on the disease. The flag relay will include ten cancer survivors who will carry the flag towards the end of its journey from Qatar Foundation to Aspire park.

Flag Relay 2018 takes place in partnership with Toyota, Blue Salon, Al Meera, and Qatar Tourism Authority who are providing financial and value in kind support. In addition, QOC is working with Al Rayyan and Al Kass to bring coverage of this event to the general public.

Flag Relay also has the support of Sealine, Hamad international Airport, Hamad Medical Hospital, Katara, the Pearl, Qatar University, Lusail City, Qatar Foundation and Aspire Zone. This event would not be possible without the support of all these key partners who see the value of the Flag Relay and how it aims to unite us all on this important occasion as we celebrate what it means to be #IamQatar.

Learn more about Team Qatar on our social media channels and website:

Olympic.qa and @TeamQatar on social accounts.

Source: Press Release

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Leena Chung

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