national day celebrations

(c)GL2009 gerard lenting: road to aspire with national flags.

Security arrangements are being put in place for the National Day celebrations on Friday.
According to senior government officials, the Doha Corniche, from Emiri Diwan Roundabout to the Sheraton Roundabout, will be closed to traffic.
“It won’t be a blanket call though. We will start restricting the traffic as it intensifies,” Internal Security Force (Lakhwiya) official Ali Salman al-Mohannadi said yesterday.
A total of 10 parking bays have been earmarked around the area for thousands of vehicles expected to head out to the Corniche Bay, from where visitors will be able to get on shuttle buses by the state-run Mowasalat.
“This is an open event,” al-Mohannadi told Gulf Times when asked if bachelors of all “income levels” would be allowed to take part in the festivities.
However, authorities will ensure that those with families are able to park in a parking lot closest to the Corniche.
“There will also be information terminals dotting the stretch (of the Corniche). These information tents will provide the latest on the National Day celebrations,” Ministry of Interior (MoI) official Abdullah Khalifa al-Muftah said.
Lakhwiya, the Traffic Department, Al Fazaa and other security agencies will handle the security at the Corniche, officials said.
The National Day Parade starts from Al Rumaila Park at 8am.
At 4pm, classic cars will go on display near the Orry, Sheraton Park will host children’s games, and the light show will begin. Also at 4pm, the best 10 entries in the National Day Schools Painting Competition will have their art projected on to the Doha Corniche with the winner announced and their painting displayed at 7pm.
“The National Day events conclude with a pyrotechnic show beginning at 8pm … it will tell the stories of Qatari life through fireworks and music,” the official said.