Doha plans a grand opening

Friday8217;s ceremony at the 40,000 seater Khalifa stadium, to be beamed live around the world, will launch the December 1-16 Asian Games in stunning style, said David Atkins, the Australian director for the opening and closing ceremonies.

Atkins directed the ceremonies for the 2000 Sydney Olympics and said the three hour 20 minute event here would be bigger and better. 8220;This ceremony, in all seriousness, is far more ambitious and greater in scale and scope than the Sydney ceremony,8221; he told a press conference.

He said at least four elements in the ceremony would be ground-breaking. 8220;We are doing things in this ceremony that have never been done before.8221;

More than 13,000 athletes from 45 nations are competing in the 15th Asian Games and Atkins said they were in for a surprise at the traditional parade of athletes at the opening ceremony.

8220;I think the athletes will really enjoy what we have planned for them,8221; he said.

Organisers said that they welcomed news that North and South Korea planned to march together into the stadium during the opening ceremony but said that neither Seoul or Pyongyang had officially notified Doha.

South Korean sports officials announced in Seoul on Monday that the two Koreas would march together in Doha8217;s opening ceremony. The march will be the first sign of reconciliation since the communist North staged a nuclear weapons test on October 9, raising tensions on the divided peninsula.

8220;We have not been notified yet, but we are very happy,8221; said Atkins. He said the Gulf state of Qatar would showcase its long history of desert and sea culture during the ceremony. 8220;One of our driving themes is the desert meeting the sea,8221; said Atkins. 8220;Qatar is part of Asia but is proud of its position in Islamic and Arabic culture.8221;