Doha 2020 Unveils Bid Logo and Campaign Slogan

Doha-Qatar, Feb 10, 2012: Doha 2020 Unveils Bid Logo: The Doha 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games Bid Committee unveiled details of its bid logo at a ceremony in Doha today. Inspired by the Arabic word for Doha ‘ad-dawha’ – literally ‘the big tree’ – this word is referenced in Arabic poetry as a tree or place of generosity and nurturing.

Together this formed the creative seed for the logo as it captured the essence of what modern Doha is today – a city for all to experience, to learn in and a place of nurturing – The Nurturing Tree.

Doha 2020 also unveiled its campaign slogan – Inspiring Change – as well as the first phase of the bid website www.doha2020.qa 

Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, Doha 2020 Vice Chairperson, said today:

“Today is an important moment for Doha 2020 as we begin to show the vision of our bid for the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Our logo and slogan reflect the uniqueness of Doha as a city and the legacies that would be achieved if the Games were to come to the Arab world for the first time. “We want to inspire more people across the region to play sport – in particular girls and women – and to embrace the values of Olympism.

Doha 2020 is an historic opportunity to grow the Olympic Movement in a new region at a crucial moment in its history. Should Doha succeed, or fail – our legacy for sports development and subsequent benefits are already being planted.”

Doha 2020 also unveiled its bid slogan – Inspiring Change – which shows the impact Games could have in the region, reflects the events of the past year across the Middle East and North Africa and shows the vision and commitment of Qatar.

Noora al Mannai, Chief Executive Officer of Doha 2020, added:

“Inspiring Change was developed to reflect Qatar’s position at the heart of a region experiencing change, our nation’s economic strength, vision, and generosity of spirit, and the belief that Olympic sport can change lives in a very positive way.

“Doha 2020 wants to align those qualities with the ‘stardust’ and inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Together this offers the opportunity to nurture and inspire positive and lasting legacy in Qatar and the wider region through sport, education and culture. Our slogan seeks to capture all of this potential.”

Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, General Secretary of the Qatar Olympic Committee and Doha 2020 Vice Chairman, added:

“Today is a significant milestone for Doha 2020 with the unveiling of our bid logo, slogan and launch of our website. With just a few days to go before we submit Doha’s Applicant File to the IOC our campaign is now moving into the next gear. “Doha 2020 is about creating a ‘win-win’ for Qatar, the region and the Olympic Movement.

It is an invitation to help build a better future and to offer Olympic sports new potential for growth, while empowering a new generation of Arab girls and boys through sport. I believe that our logo and slogan help to capture the essence of what Doha 2020 would deliver to the Olympic Family through the development of Olympic sport throughout the region.”

The Doha 2020 logo was designed by BWM Naked, a Dubai based creative agency www.bwmnaked.com

• The Doha 2020 logo, slogan and website were unveiled at the Reach Out To Asia ‘Wheels n’ Heels’ annual community fun day event in Doha
• Doha 2020 will submit its Applicant File to the IOC by 15 February 2012
• The IOC will confirm the shortlist of Candidate Cities bidding to host the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games in May 2012
• The IOC will announce the Host City of the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games on 7 September 2013

Doha 2020 Bid Logo and Campaign Slogan Background Brief

Inspiration behind the Doha 2020 logo – The Nurturing Tree

The name Doha derives from the Arabic word ‘ad-dawha’ – in English this means ‘the big tree’ and is the inspiration for the Doha 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games logo.

Local legend suggests that ‘the big tree’ stood on the site of where modern Doha is located today. ‘ad-dawha’ is also referenced in Arabic poetry as a place of generosity where all birds were free to come and be nurtured.

This concept of nurturing is central to Qatar’s past, present and future. In particular, our capital city Doha has become a place for all to experience, to learn in and grow from.

From its strong heritage, Arabic roots and its international actions, Qatar is striving to help nurture social and human development through its own good fortune and bountiful natural resources. Full of life and energy to inspire new generations, the city of Doha has become a place of opportunity and aspiration.

Crucially for Doha 2020, when this energy and outlook is aligned with the ‘stardust’ and inspiration of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, the opportunity to nurture and inspire positive and lasting legacy in Qatar and the wider region – in sport and other areas of life – is huge.

The Doha 2020 ‘nuturing tree’ logo reflects both the historic and modern day characteristics of Doha – a city ready to welcome the world in 2020 and, in partnership with the International Olympic Committee [IOC], to nurture and inspire the next generation through sport across the Middle East and beyond.

Doha 2020 Campaign Slogan – Inspiring Change

The last 12 months has seen profound change across the Middle East and North Africa. This change has been driven by a new desire, especially among younger generations, to connect and share their hopes – through direct action and social media – to seek a more positive future. This ‘back-story’ provides the creative seed for the Doha 2020 bid slogan ‘Inspiring Change’.

This slogan for Doha 2020 evolved not simply because Qatar lies in the heart of a region experiencing change; it came about also because of traits unique to Qatar – its economic strength, vision, and generosity of spirit, its belief in sport, education and culture as well as recognition of its increasing role in the region.

Qatar’s development has leaned heavily on the significant natural resources within its borders. But wealth without direction benefits no one. Qatar’s National Vision 2030 – our own blueprint for human, social, economic and environmental development – is the steady compass charting our own direction. And it is this vision which highlights the importance of sport in creating healthy lifestyles, positive social values and the empowerment of women.

Recent events in the Middle East will continue to impact the region and the hopes and aspirations of the next generation in the years ahead. This change offers the IOC a unique and profound opportunity to reach the Arab world, to influence, to inspire change and even to shape the very future of the Middle East.

It is truly an opportunity to grow the Olympic Movement and the values of Olympism in a new region at a crucial moment in its history. Bringing the Games to Doha can inspire more people across the region to play sport – in particular, more girls and women.

And by bringing the Olympic Games to the Middle East for the first time, at this most profound and exciting time, the IOC has a chance to impact  positively across a much wider socio, economic and cultural landscape, and open up new opportunities for the Olympic Movement.

Qatar is a nation of vision. It aspires to be a beacon that galvanizes our youth to be the best they can be; to strive to be Olympic in their values and to build character traits that will develop the leaders and champions of tomorrow.

When Qatar’s vision is mixed with the momentum of change in the region, and the inspirational impact of the Olympic and Paralympic Games, then Doha 2020 offers a unique opportunity for the Middle East and the Olympic Movement. One that will change both their futures for the better – economically, culturally and in sporting potential.