PARIS: Qatar Museums will be holding exciting exhibitions and public events in Paris beginning on July 24, on the margin of the 2024 Summer Olympics, which will run from July 26 to August 11.
The programme includes two exhibitions and the launch of the first-ever Arabic translation of writings, "Textes Choisis", by Pierre de Coubertin, the French historian and visionary widely regarded as the father of the modern Olympic Games.
In a press release, Qatar Museums said that its summer programme reaffirms close ties between Qatar and France and establishes new links based on a shared love of sport. The programme is organised as a legacy of Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture and the 2014 Cultural Agreement signed by both countries.
Chairperson of Qatar Museums HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani said, "For more than a decade, we have worked closely with our colleagues in France to present the greatest riches of our respective cultures in Paris, Doha and beyond. This latest programme of events reconfirms our joint commitment to sharing our interests, values, and ideals. As we look to the Summer 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, this slate of programmes celebrates the power of sport to bring together cultures and serve as a bridge between nations."
Organised by Qatar Museums and 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, the first-of-its-kind exhibition, Esports A Game Changer, explores the evolution of competitive gaming from its niche origins to a thriving cultural economy that supports mainstream megaevents. The exhibition will be on view in Residence Citeaux, Paris, from July 24 to September 8, and will be on view in Doha, in 2025.
As for its second exhibition part of its cultural programme at Paris 2024, Qatar Museums is staging an exhibition titled Olympism: More than a Dream, which will take place at Le Royal Monceau - Raffles Paris Hotel, from July 31 to August 25.
The exhibition records 40 years of Qatar's participation in the Olympics since 1984, and will consist of three parts: the first is a tribute to founder of the Modern Olympics Pierre de Coubertin and celebrates Qatar's gift of the first ever translation of Coubertins Selected Writings into Arabic, along with featuring iconic Olympic objects from the Museums collection.
The second part highlights key milestones in Qatars progress as an Olympic nation, from its first participation at Los Angeles 1984 to Tokyo 2020.
Foregrounding Qatar's continuous involvement in each subsequent Summer Olympic Games and Paralympics featuring milestone moments, memorabilia and medals from Qatar's first medal in 1992 to one of the two Tokyo 2020 golds.
Moreover, on display is the bronze won by Qatar athlete Mohammed Suleiman in the 1500m at Barcelona, the first medal in the history of the Olympic Games to be won by a Gulf Country, in addition to the gold medal won by the Qatari Falcon Mutaz Barshim in the high jump at Tokyo 2020.
The third and final part explores Qatar's emergence as a global sporting leader and host, and its aspirations to host the Olympic Games in the future. Building on its long and successful track record as international sport host, Qatar now wishes to progress its Olympic dream.
