Tribune News Network
Doha
focusINTERNATIONAL, a leading international NGO, in collaboration with Katara Public Diplomacy, the world’s largest boot ‘Big Boot’ will be exhibited at Katara Cultural Village.
The unveiling ceremony will be held on November 14, at 7pm, during which a cultural procession will be held by Indian artists under the patronage of Indian Cultural Center (ICC).
The exhibition aims to express solidarity for Qatar’s efforts in highlighting the football as a sport that brings global fraternity. The organisers said the exhibition sets a new saga in the tradition of Indo-Arab and international cultural exchange.
In a statement, the organisers said, "When India’s first international football match was held at the London Olympics in 1948, the players did not have boots. When asked by the media about playing without boots in India’s loss to France, the then captain Thalimeran AO quipped, "We play football, you play boot ball”. This Big Boot is also a reminder of India’s football history and has become a new edition of Indo-Arab cultural exchange.”
‘focusINTERNATIONAL’ has been a youth presence in India and various GCC countries including Qatar since 2005. Its mission is to equip young people to channel their knowledge, time, and professional skills into areas of activity that can contribute to societal growth. By bringing the Big Boot to Qatar it joins the spirit of a nation in promoting sports for fraternity.
The boot is designed by artist and curator M Dileef, who is a Guinness World Record holder.
Dileef is the creator of the world’s longest Quran, the largest Marker Pen, Bicycle, Sanitiser, Screwdriver, and many other ‘big’ arts. The 17-feet-long and 7-feet-high Big Boot is made of leather, fibre, resin, foam sheet and acrylic sheet. The design work of the made-in-India boot will be completed in Qatar.
CEO of the Katara Public Diplomacy Center (KPDC) and Global Public Diplomatic Network Secretary-General Engineer Darwish Ahmed Al Shaibani, ICC President PN Baburajan, focusINTERNATIONAL CEO Shameer Valiyaveetil, CFO Mohammad Riyaz, Events Director Askar Rahiman and focusQATAR President Haris Pariyanthodi attended the press conference to announce the event.