EYES ON CHINA GOLD - Qatar Olympic Committee

Exhibition Zones
Sports & Fitness Zone:
Interactive Zone
Sports Associations
Government Bodies
Sports TV channels
Sports Magazines
Sports equipment
Sportswear
The Natural
Health Zone:
Health food,
supplements
and
beverages
Herbal and
natural
health
remedies
Dietary and herbal
supplements
Vitamins
Organic food and
beverages
Nutrition Products
The Tourism Zone:
Sports Tourism
Health Tourism
Agrotourism
Magazines/Publications
Tourism Associations
Chamber of Commerce
in sportswear, and get to know the benefits of
spas, beauty products, diets and new ways to
treat injuries.
According to Waleed Wahba, Project Manager
with QatarExpo, there will be many highlights this
year, but perhaps most important is the increased
presence from sporting organisations. Around 35 per
cent of the exhibition floor space, he says, will be
taken up by Qatar’s federations and sports clubs -
with international organisations also likely to
participate. As part of the sports focus, Qatari athletes
who have excelled in different sports over the last
decade will also be honoured for their ‘outstanding’
achievements at the event.
The QOC together with the ASPIRE Academy
will announce the awards during a gala dinner held
on the opening night.
Sport and Fitness, however, is just one of six
exhibitor zones (see box) and the business-to-business
strand of the exhibition is more focused on the
Spa and Wellness zone.
“The exhibitors are targeting both consumers and
traders, but the health, beauty and sports messages
are more targeted at consumers. Then we have the
companies, mostly in the fitness and well-being field,
which are more interested in business-to-business
trading with Qatar and the region.”
But whatever the exhibitor’s target market, Mr
Whaba is encouraged by their take-up rate this year.
“Last year, the number of companies was 80; this
event will have at least 120 companies from 18
countries. This year, we have three big companies
from Japan for the first time, as well as a company
from Italy, the UAE, Egypt, China, the Lebanon and
many others. Our plan for 2009 and 2010 is to
convert 60 per cent of exhibitors to those from
international markets.”
But any event sponsored by the QOC, ASPIRE
and the National Health Authority is bound to have
a more wide-ranging agenda than simply business.
‘LIFE - Be Part of it!’, he says, is more concerned with
the promotion of sport, health and well-being. The
success last year not only gave credibility to the event,
but has also allowed QatarExpo to work on this
project with great motivation in order to accomplish
further success.
‘LIFE - Be Part of it!’ is the first exhibition to talk
about health and sport in the region. There’s nothing
quite like it in the Middle East and we are
working closely with the QOC in developing new
ideas and to send the right messages about health,
sports and lifestyle.”
QatarExpo will be promoting the event in the
national media and in Doha’s main shopping malls
over the coming months and will be going further
afield in the future to ensure it becomes a truly
international event. After all, ‘LIFE - Be Part of it!’ is
a motto that everyone can relate to.
Spa & Wellness Zone:
Spa & wellness equipment
and products
Medical supplies
Wellbeing, relaxation &
beauty items
Health retreats, beauty &
wellness centres
Massage products &
equipment
Saunas and Jacuzzis
Education, publications
and the latest
developments
and enhancements in spa
techniques and technology
The Yoga Zone:
Interactive Zone
Yoga sessions
Retreats
Spiritual music and
merchandise
Alternative Medicine Zone:
Aromatherapy products
and treatments
Crystal therapy sessions
Reiki
Bach flower essence
remedies
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