19 Monday, February 9, 2009 Metro Musings LANI ROSE R DIZON DOHA Cycling’s popularity as a sport is growing in Qatar, says world cycling legend Eddy Merckx. In an interview with Qatar Tribune, Merckx said that the mere presence of a Qatari cycling team, and the growing number of cyclists in the coun- try prove that cycling as a sport is already gaining popularity here. “We have a Qatari cycling team, and you see a lot more people riding the bike than few years ago,” he added. Merckx, a Belgian cycling champion and founder of the recently concluded Tour of Qatar, has set the world record of winning the prestigious Tour de France five times. Truly so, his presence in Doha brought joy to cycling enthusiasts here. A local cyclist said, “I have been following on Eddy Merckx’s career since I was 20 years old. I’m very glad that finally I was able to meet him personally in Doha, now that I’m already 52 years old. It’s every cyclist’s dream to meet Eddy Merckx, he’s a living leg- end in the world of cycling sports. And if it weren’t for this Tour of Qatar, I wouldn’t have met him. “I was so happy to see him in flesh, that I’ve also grabbed the opportunity to order an Eddy Merckx bicycle frame. He is the only cyclist who has ever had his own signature bicycles, and they’re one of the top-of-the- line signature bikes in the world”. Several publications in the past have served to be testa- ments of Merckx’s legendary accomplishments. The Velo French magazine has called him ‘the most accomplished rider that cycling has ever known’, while the American publication VeloNews has called him ‘the greatest and most successful cyclist of all time’. Merckx said that having his passion for cycling as his job at the same time was one of the nicest things he has ever had. “I started riding in my bike when I was 4 years old, and then I played football, and other sports. I started racing when I was 16 years old. “I also used to ride the bike when going to school. For my passion, I make it my job. It’s the nicest thing you can have, hav- ing your passion as your job. For me it’s great, and also it’s very important in life doing what you love to do,” he added. With this, he complemented Qatar’s efforts to promote sports in the country. He said, “Qatar is a very sports-oriented state, and it has its participation on every kind of sport especially now that it’s also a candidate in the championship for World Football”. On how Qatar could further promote sports to residents, he said, “If you promote sports, it has to start from the children, and that will be in the culture of the young people. I think this is what the Royal Family and the Qatar Olympic Committee are doing. It’s to have more kids doing sports, cycling, or other sports. But what’s important is they do sports. That’s the most important thing; it’s to promote sports to the young ones”. Giving his personal word of advice to aspiring sportsmen and sportswomen in the coun- try who also dream of making it big in the field someday, he said, “First of all, you need natural talent. That’s ok, but talent is not enough. Also, you need a lot of concentration and training. Never think that you’re indis- pensable, because every year, you start from zero. “When the new season starts, you don’t know about how the other competitors are, and it’s not like you have a diploma of university that you’re a doctor for your whole life. In sport, you start every year from zero. That’s because you’ll never know the new people coming in, and you don’t know if you’re as strong as the year before, aside from having different competitors. “Motivation is the most important thing. Try to win to be the best. I think if you love sport, you have to try to be the best in that sport,” Merckx added. Cycling gaining popularity in Qatar, says Eddy Cycling legend Eddy Merckx: ‘Motivation is most important’. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA Raha Auto Assistance (Raha), Qatar’s first 24-hour patrol-based roadside assis- tance service, says it is breaking all records in efforts to respond to members suffering vehicle breakdowns or involved in traffic accidents. “With a record number of cars on the roads of Qatar than ever before and hun- dreds more registered every week, not much is moving faster when you travel around Doha, except the bright yellow Raha patrol vehicles,” a statement issued here on Sunday said. When operations began in October last year, Raha promised to respond to mem- bers calls for help in 45 minutes on average. Just three months later and Raha’s 30 patrol vehicles have not only kept their promise, they’ve beaten their target with average response time of just 37 minutes, a real bonus with the punishing summer weather fast approaching, it said. “Breaking down is never a nice experi- ence, no matter the weather conditions, but thanks to their skill and knowledge of Doha’s roads, Raha Patrols are able to reach our members fast and fix around seven out of ten vehicles at the roadside,” says General Manager Ikram Hamdad. When members suffer a traffic accident or breakdown anywhere in Qatar, Raha coordinates its fast response through its state-of-the-art operations call centre. Bi- lingual telephone operators receive the member’s call and immediately pinpoint their location. A Raha patrol is dispatched, using the lat- est satellite technology and detailed knowl- edge of the roads of Qatar, arrives quickly in a fully-equipped vehicle. Dedicated to helping its members get on the move after a traffic accident or break- down, Raha’s focus is on-the-spot repairs at the roadside so members don’t miss that important business meeting or family occa- sion. If a roadside repair is not possible, the vehicle and passengers are taken to a desti- nation of the member’s choice in Qatar. For less than QR2 per day, Raha member’s registered vehicles receive roadside assis- tance 365 days a year, regardless of who is driving. “Raha’s number one aim is to repair a vehicle at the roadside, no matter what the fault, and get members moving quickly. This makes us different from others who don’t have our combination of specialist vehicles, technology, tools and genuine car parts to perform a wide range of roadside repairs,” says Raha Operations Director Roy Clarke. TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA Pat Engineering Enterprises, a Qatari based company and Vimac SA, a lead- ing power and energy Spanish firm, last week signed a join venture agreement to work together in Qatar. The new joint venture will be called Pat-Vimac Energy Co. “The partnership between Pat Engineering and Vimac SA is an indication of the accelerat- ing globalisation taking place in Qatar in the power and trans- mission sector” said the General Manager of Pat, Marin Harti. “Pat and Vimac are comple- menting each other as EPC con- tractor. The combined strengths of the two companies will create a leading provider focused on electricity and power, with cost-optimised propositions designed to give clients customised solutions and focus on on-time delivery. Delays in infrastructure proj- ects can hinder the extraordi- nary growth that Qatar is expe- riencing. Pat-Vimac joint ven- ture will focus on delivering its services on time to satisfy the needs of our clients” said Guillermo Contreras Manrique, director of Vimac SA. The new company will be located Doha, Qatar and will focus on EPC contractors in the power, energy and power trans- mission sector. The name of the company, Pat-Vimac Energy Co, “captures with simplicity the essence of the company, its main focus and scope”, said the joint venture’s advisors Aldo Bernardi and Adnan Baydoun. Pat Engineering Enterprises Co. WLL is an international company with offices in Qatar, Kuwait, USA and India. The company offers a wide range of services and engineering solu- tions for oil and gas, power, and power distribution systems. The company has grown steadily investing in research and development together in alliance with strategic partners and consultancy firms. Vimac SA is a company with long experience in the power and energy sector. Its origin goes back to the beginning of twentieth-century. It offers its considerable experience in the engineering installations and maintenance for the electricity and power sector. It has as infra- structure team capable of undertaking large and highly technical projects, using inno- vative solutions of materials and advance technologies. Qatari, Spanish firms in joint venture General Manager Pat Marin Harti (right) and Director Vimac Guillermo Contreras Manrique in Doha. QBWF names sponsors for Ambassador Programme TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK DOHA The Qatari Business Women Forum (QBWF) has announced sponsors of its Corporate Ambassador Programme which will be held under the patronage and pres- ence of Minister of Business & Trade HE Sheikh Fahad bin Jassim bin Mohammad alThani, on February 10 and 11 at the Sheraton Doha Hotel. It will focus on “SMEs: Engines for Economic Growth” to educate professional businessmen and women on skills needed to start and grow a business and provide net- working opportunities. The sponsors are Commercial Bank of Qatar, Qatar Islamic Bank (QIB), Jaguar of Alfardan Premier Motors, Aamal and The Pearl Qatar, UDC’s flagship project. Commercialbank is the leading private sector and second largest commercial bank in Qatar by total assets and shareholders equity. It now ranks among the top 20 Arab banks by capital strength. The bank has a growing GCC regional presence, through its affiliated banks, National Bank of Oman, the second largest bank in Oman, and United Arab Bank in the UAE. QIB, was founded 25 years ago as the first Islamic and Sharia-compliant bank in Qatar and is one of the five largest Islamic banks in the world. Today the bank enjoys the premier position within the Islamic banking sector and was the pioneer in launching Sharia- compliant Islamic financial products for retail, corporate and private banking, and operates today in Qatar via 23 branches and 91 ATMs. QIB is also a trendsetter in real estate investment funds in the UK, USA, and France. Aamal Company comprises several branches and subsidiaries which were part of Al Faisal Holding. With diversified activities and income, Aamal branches have been operating in Qatar for more than 40 years and have achieved leading positions in the areas they operate. Aamal Company QSC runs a successful group staffed with over 3,000 professionals and is considered a role model for many other companies. Alfardan Premier Motors Co., Land Rover and Jaguar importer in Qatar and market leader among Qatar’s vehicle dealers, has captured a huge local market owing to its premium focus on customer care and satis- faction. With state-of-the -art showrooms and a cutting-edge service centre, Alfardan Premier Motors Co. is equipped to handle the various requirements of its esteemed customers. The Pearl Qatar is UDC’s flagship project, and one of the largest urban developments in Qatar, The Pearl-Qatar is achieving interna- tional recognition as the Middle East’s most prestigious and glamorous location, renowned for excellence in design and con- struction. With an area of 4 million square meters and a 32 km coastline, this reclaimed island has been developed with funds in excess of QR 50 billion (US$14 billion). Raha offers prompt help to members Raha assists stranded motorists on the roads of Qatar.