Doha, October 04 (QNA) - Director of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (QOSM), Abdullah Al Mulla, said Qatar's receipt of the flag for the 21st Asian Games, Doha 2030, marks an important milestone in the country's sporting history and signals the start of preparations for the continental event.

In remarks to the Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Mulla said Qatar's selection to host the 2030 Asian Games builds on the country's successful staging of the 2006 edition, which helped strengthen its profile on the Asian and international sporting map.

He said Qatar set ambitious standards when it hosted the 2006 Asian Games and delivered an edition that received widespread acclaim. Doha 2030, he added, is expected to be another landmark edition, supported by early preparations and the experience Qatar has gained from hosting major sporting competitions and events, including the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar and numerous other international and continental tournaments.

Al Mulla said Qatar has developed into an important destination for athletes and sporting delegations and a meeting point for different parts of the global sports community. He attributed this in part to the country's advanced infrastructure, world-class facilities and ability to provide an integrated environment for competitions and related events.

He said Qatar is committed to mobilizing its resources to stage an Asian Games worthy of the event's stature while creating a lasting sporting legacy that can benefit future generations.

The 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, along with Qatar Museums more broadly, will also contribute to the continental event through a range of activities and programs, Al Mulla said. These initiatives will highlight Qatar's sporting heritage and strengthen the community's connection with sport and its values.

He also underscored the importance of making effective use of existing sports facilities as part of efforts to create a sustainable legacy for the Games. Doing so, he said, would ensure that the facilities continue to serve the country after the competition ends and strengthen Qatar's ability to host sporting events across a wide range of disciplines, further enhancing its position on the global sports map.

Concluding his remarks to QNA, Al Mulla said hosting the 2030 Asian Games represents a new phase in Qatar's sporting journey, which has expanded significantly since the country staged the 2006 edition and subsequently hosted numerous major continental and international competitions and events.

He said this development has helped expand Qatar's sports infrastructure and facilities, broaden its capacity to host international competitions and establish the country as a destination for athletes from around the world. Doha 2030 will build on that progress while providing an opportunity to strengthen Qatar's sporting achievements and create a lasting legacy for future generations, he added. (QNA)