($44 million from the government)[2] The centerpiece of the bid was the expansion of the Aspire Zone sports center, which also houses many other facilities.

[2] With sport as a raison d'etre, Qatar has invested in multimillion-dollar projects to upgrade Doha's infrastructure to premium international standards.

Khalifa Stadium is well-tailored to host major sports events of international standard, particularly football (soccer) and athletics.

The size of court is around 30X50m with a height of 28 m. The sports hall does have a gallery to accommodate 2000 viewers and additional seating for about 500 persons.

Finished in 2007, the skeleton of the structure is clad in combination of glazing panels and architectural stainless steel mesh, which has been accentuated by state-of-the-art facade lighting.

The Qatari government has placed huge investment into developing a local transportation network and to improving accessibility between Qatar and the outside world by land, air and sea.

Over the past few years, a great deal has been achieved in terms of building ports, airports and roads, with more under construction or planned.

With the imminent expansion of Qatar Airways, the country is building the New Doha International Airport, capable of handling 50 million passengers a year when it is completed in 2015.

Lusail's plans include both an underground and aboveground train network, which will be fully integrated with a new rail system in Doha itself.

The Bid Committee is also advocating the use of a range of battery powered taxis and buses in an effort to cut air pollution.

[9] The Qatari hotel industry has made impressive progress in the past few years, capitalizing on the country's new role as a key business destination, hosting numerous international conferences and forums.

The logo's design represents the blossoming of the hopes and aspirations of Qatar, rooted in the rich heritage of the country.

The Aldahma's natural habitat in the sands of the desert draws a parallel with the vibrant and colourful life flourishing in the State of Qatar.

The calligraphy strokes making the words 'Doha 2016' are a unique manipulation of the traditional organic Henna patterns that women use to adorn their hands and arms as part of social and holiday celebrations.

In 2006, Doha successfully hosted the very well regarded 2006 Asian Games,[6] the centerpiece being its sports city named Aspire Zone.

Doha is also a modern city which is currently undergoing a flurry of activity, expanding its number of hotels and road networks to international standards.

[2] The Qataris promoted a message of peace with their bid, and while Qatar is a stable country, greater regional concerns over safety and terrorism may have hampered votes.

[3] The overall small size of Doha and Qatar (330,000 and 960,000 respectively) would have made it one of the smallest locations in modern history to host the games.