DUBAI: What does art have to do with the Olympics? Qatar Museums, the Gulf nation’s preeminent government institution for art and culture, believes that art is a way to further spur cultural diplomacy and highlight the country’s unique heritage and cultural scene in line with its 40-year participation in the Olympics.

Qatar Museums is celebrating the 2024 Summer Olympics with the staging of several exhibitions and public events in Paris, including art shows, book launches and the takeover of renowned restaurant Le Dali at Le Meurice hotel on Rue de Rivoli by Jiwan, an acclaimed restaurant located within Doha’s National Museum of Qatar, highlighting the rich culinary heritage of Qatari cuisine.

The series of events also includes the launch of the first-ever Arabic translation of writings, “Textes Choisis,” by Pierre de Coubertin, the French historian and visionary widely regarded as the father of the modern Olympic games. 

The project is anchored by two exhibitions curated by Qatar Museums and 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum: “Olympism: More Than a Dream Exhibition,” recording 40 years of Qatar’s participation in the Olympics since 1984, which runs until Aug. 25; and “Esports: A Game Changer,” which runs until Sept. 8 at the Residence Citeaux in Paris.

The latter exhibition explores how esports relates to gaming and traditional sports. It takes a sociological look at competitive gaming, defining it in relation to traditional sports and casual gaming, while also looking at its governing organizations and economies. On view are objects and documents that trace the history of esports, including the invention of the first electronic pinball machine almost a century ago and also snapshots of several of competitive gaming’s biggest contemporary stars. The final part of the show explores the future of esports in the gaming landscape and beyond, focusing on its societal, educational, recreational and occupational impacts.

On view in the “Olympism: More Than a Dream” exhibition is memorabilia, including Qatar’s first-ever Olympic medal, a bronze won by athlete Mohammed Suleiman in the 1,500 meter-running event during the 1992 Barcelona Summer Olympics. 

Another program highlight is the gold medal triumph of the “Golden Falcon,” Mutaz Barshim, who won gold in the high jump event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

“In parallel with the Summer 2024 Olympics, the last few weeks witnessed Qatar Museums organizing a spectacular lineup of programs in Paris, affirming our longstanding commitment to cultural diplomacy and role in highlighting Qatar’s history and culture in the international arena,” Mohammed Saad Al-Rumaihi, CEO of Qatar Museums, told Arab News.

“Stemming from the 2014 Cultural Agreement between Qatar and France, the summer program continues the legacy of the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture,” he added. “It celebrates a shared passion for sport in both countries, strengthens exchange and highlights Qatar’s offerings internationally.”

The launch of the Olympism exhibition was attended including Qatar’s Ambassador to France Sheikh Ali bin Jassim Al-Thani, Qatar Football Association President Jassim bin Rashid Al-Buenain and Vice President of the Qatar Olympic Committee Thani bin Abdulrahman Al-Kuwari, as well as the president of the Pierre de Coubertin Family Association, Alexandra de Navacelle de Coubertin.

The first part of the exhibition displays iconic Olympic artifacts from the museum’s collection, including Muhammad Ali’s left boxing glove from Rome 1960 and the Innsbruck 1964 Olympic torch.

The second part highlights key milestones in Qatar’s Olympic history, including the country’s debut at the Los Angeles 1984 Summer Olympics and strong presence at the Tokyo 2020 Games. 

The rich artistic program that Qatar Museums is presenting during the Paris Olympics is organized to commemorate the Qatar-France 2020 Year of Culture, a Qatar Museums initiative, and the 2014 Cultural Agreement signed by Qatar and France.

It is also not the first time that Qatar is supporting the Olympics through culture and art. During the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Qatar presented Bayt Qatar, a hospitality house presenting live music performances, exhibitions and even an outdoor souk. In 2012, Qatar Museums staged a Heya exhibition featuring the creations of 70 Arab sportswomen.

Al-Rumaihi said that these projects shed light on the unique culture of sportsmanship, highlighting “the diverse and vibrant aspects of Qatari sporting culture, and offer a unique opportunity for audiences in Paris and beyond to engage with the nation’s legacy and contemporary  achievements.”