Opening-day performers
look strikingly familiar

By Jun Lomibao
Editor

QUITE noticeable during Friday’s spectacular opening ceremonies that could equal similar rites for the Olympics was that a majority of the performers—dancers and volunteers—didn’t look like they were Qataris.
           
They looked more Filipinos to many, or Orientals.
           
Again, having Filipinos in the cast is not surprising because the hosts agreed to the subcontractors hiring Filipino crews.
           
Many of our kababayans are working the Games in various capacities, mostly for a two-month contract. Some are hired under an all-expense paid and $400 to $500 a month salary package.
           
These Filipinos are returning home—that is unless they find other employment—on or before, and even after, Christmas.
           
Other nationalities, which the hosts said have breached 70 countries, include Moroccans, Pakistanis and Burmese.

Oases in the desert

APPROXIMATELY 6.9 million liters of drinking water would be consumed by participants during the 15 days of the 15th Asian Games. This is based on the host’s projected requirement of 11.5 million bottles of drinking water.
           
That would mean Nestlé, the Games’ official supplier of bottled water through its Pure Life brand, would need that many 600-ml bottles to quench the thirst and satisfy the fluid requirements of more than 10,500 athletes.
           
Besides the bottled water needs, other aspects that make these Games the biggest so far are the number of hits—1.24 million as of November—on the Games web site and the 3,500 kg of paper that has been recycled even before Friday’s opening.
           
Again, Samsung is keeping its brand in the Games as one of the so-called “Prestige Partners.” The Korean electronics giant, again the chief sponsor of the Most Outstanding Athlete award, is joined under that label by Qatar Airways, telecom company QTel and QNB, Qatar’s national bank.
           
Below the “Prestige” level are Bean Pole, General Electric, Tissot and another Korean brand, Pocari Sweat.
 
Going big
 
THESE Asian Games are the largest indeed for certain reasons.
           
One reason is that 45 countries are taking part in this edition being hosted for the first time by a Middle Eastern country. And with 45 countries, including China and India, it readily has two-thirds of the entire world’s population represented.
           
There, too, is a significant rise in the participation of women athletes, as Doha expected about 2,000 females competing in these Games.
           
Of course, the dotted line doesn’t lie. It states a price tag of P2.8 billion.

No can do

ALTHOUGH Qatar is one of the more liberal Arab states, public display of affection between lovers is discouraged.
           
Reminders that unmarried couples be “less showy” in public have been underscored in both the athletes and media manuals.
           
The reminder in the media guide states: “It is important to note that regardless of nationality, public display of affection(s) are frowned upon. It is best to keep bodily contact to a minimum. This includes (hand holding) between males and females, and other forms of intimacy.”
           
The hosts have also been particular about the sharing of rooms by males and females that they reminded married couples coming for the Games either as media, athletes or officials to bring along their marriage certificates.