Doha puts sport in the fast lane

For most countries, establishing a sporting culture is a marathon journey. For Qatar, it’s been a sprint.

The impressive new sports museum – 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum – in Doha is a fitting example of the expense, drive and commitment the country is making to fast-track its plans to become an internationally recognised destination for major sporting events.

3-2-1 or QOSM opened its doors in March this year. It is one of dozens of substantive sporting infrastructure additions to Doha, built in readiness for the FIFA 2022 World Cup. 

Qatar museums

As museums go, this one is a cut above.

So, prepare to set aside at least a morning or afternoon to absorb some of what is on offer at this venue.

The museum forms part of the Khalifa International Stadium, one of the eight stadiums in and around Doha that will host the World Cup. It is sure to be a popular attraction for some of the million or more visiting soccer fans expected for the tournament from 21 November to 18 December.

We liked 3-2-1 so much, we returned. There is just so much to see and enjoy as, indeed, there is throughout Doha.  

The museum is inspiring, interactive and beautifully and cleverly curated.

Sports fans will love this immersive journey.

It’s a top-down experience with seven galleries that includes the origins of sport from all parts of the globe and its evolution to the modern day; the history and significance of the Olympic Games; an athletes hall of fame with its focus on the GOATs – Greatest Of All Time – and my favourite, the 3-2-1 Activation Zone.

It’s the latter – at the end of the tour – that cleverly brings the families with young children in, making learning FUN! What a joy to see so many families relishing their experience.

(I couldn’t help but recall my own childhood experiences when we were too scared to say anything, let alone touch a museum artefact! The modern-day version of our captured collective history is far more appealing and humanising. It makes learning a pleasure because you hardly realise you are absorbing knowledge).  

3-2-1 – and we’re off

Visitors enter the eight-storey museum via a tartan track, a perfect welcome for sports lovers, setting the tone for what lays ahead. After security checks (bags through scanners etc), and the checking of tickets (you book and pay in advance online or buy at reception), it’s up to the top floor.  You can use the lift or elevator to the seventh floor (the eighth floor is home to a health food restaurant) where your sporting treat begins.

Incidentally, this museum forms part of the Qatar Museum’s growing number of cultural destinations across Doha. We have many more to see, but can highly recommend the iconic Qatar National Museum.

You’re welcomed by big screens of cheering fans … and already, I’m amped for all that lies ahead.

In the beginning

The history nerd within comes out to play. I learnt, via the various interactive exhibits, about everything from hockey sticks to stick fighting across the continents. There is so much to see and learn, and hence one visit is unlikely to be enough. There’s an entire display devoted to stick fighting in South Africa which I only found second time around.

The information – the hard facts – is the only thing that is “old school” in terms of this museum, as everything else shouts modern, first-world, digital, novel and interactive.   

The pushing of buttons, touching of screens, and multi-media surround sound and visuals, ensure a full-sensory experience through all sectors of the museum.

Olympics

3-2-1 is the second largest Olympic museum in the world. It shares the Olympic torch limelight with the Olympic Museum Lausanne, Switzerland. These torches hang from the ceiling and are accompanied by stories that are shared as you stand alongside them. There are medals, stories of special Olympic moments and a full record of each Olympic Games hosted, along with all the statistics. How gratifying to see the how number of female athletes has grown in leaps and bounds since the first modern games in 1896.

The very first games were recorded in Greece in 776BC, but the sporting tournament is believed to be far older.

I suppose the message here is that we – that’s us humans – have been competitive since day dot … in seeking to establish who is fastest, highest and strongest (citius, altius, fortius).

GOAT salute to top athletes

Given our love of sport, the Hall of Athletes (those individuals who are household names) was, and is, a journey down memory lane.

I well remember the joy that the likes of motor racing driver Aryton Senna, swimmer Mark Spitz, gymnast Nadia Comaneci, boxer Muhammed Ali, rugby wing Jonah Lomu and so many others had given me over many years.  

Sadly, there were no South Africans among these sporting giants.

Qatar’s sporting history

Having been weaned on motorbikes (Dad was a motorcycle correspondence) and British football, followed by rugby, hockey, swimming and athletics after emigrating to South Africa, it is interesting to learn something new. In Qatar, it’s horses, dogs, falcons and camels!

As shared, the Qatari nation recognises the advantages of sport in bringing both visitors to the country by hosting international sporting events and by encouraging everyone to adapt a healthy lifestyle.

From fan to player

After following the cleverly devised downward spiral of interactive exhibits, similar to the plotted journey of the Qatar National Museum, you are thrust into the activation zone.

Prepare for a rise in your heart beat!

It’s here that you compete and assess your “physical literacy” (this is just a clever expression for testing your own fitness).

It’s a must for young and old. Ultimately, the competition is yourself. You can keep the wrist band capturing your performance for reactivation during your next visit and session in the activation zone.

It is great fun and includes will test your endurance, speed, power and co-ordination.

The volunteers not only guide you on each of the different tests but cheer you on too. This is very encouraging, especially for D-team players like me!

Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum

What you need to know

Getting there: We used the Metro (Sports City stop) to get directly to the museum at the Khalifa International Stadium. (It’s where they hosted the 2006 Asian Games). There’s plenty of parking.

Opening hours: Saturday to Thursday 9am to 7pm. Friday from 1.30pm to 7pm. Check these times during Ramadan. The last admission is 30 minutes before closing.

Ticketing. Entry is free for Qatari residents. For visitors it is QAR 50. There are special discounts for Culture Pass members.

Inquiries: Email qosm@qm.org.qa or call +974 4453 5555.