The Delphi Driver adorns the Doha International Airport Metro Station

The exact copy Driver of Delphi, one of the most famous statues of classical sculpture, now adorns the main Metro station at Doha International Airport, Qatar.

According to an announcement by the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the official opening ceremony of the exhibition of the copy of Iniohos, which is a gift from the Greek government in Qatar, took place yesterday morning. The unveiling of the statue was made by the Minister of Culture and Sports, Lina Mendoni, during her official visit to Qatar, and by the Director General of the Qatar Museums Authority, Ahmad Al-Namla.

According to the same announcement of the Ministry of Culture, Mrs. Mendoni referred to the history of Iniochos, to his discovery in 1896 – the year of the organization of the first modern Olympic Games in Athens -, to his special characteristics, to the emotions imprinted on his face, to the fact that it is one of the rare statues in which the eyes are preserved, made of semi-precious stone and glass, elements that make the Iniochos more famous than the tributes to Apollo of Delphi. “Many centuries later, Iniochos becomes ambassador of the friendship between Greece and Qatar. I can not think of a better place for the exhibition of the copy of Inioho, from the high-tech Metro station at Doha Airport. Qatar is moving fast towards the future, while showing respect and honor for its cultural heritage. Taking into account this spirit in a symbolic movement, we chose to offer the statue of Eniochos to the people of Qatar, at a time that marks the strengthening and strengthening of relations between the two countries, not only in the field of culture and sports, but also in general. “, Said Lina Mendoni.

Mr. Ahmad Al-Namla then took Lina Mendoni on a tour of Qatar’s new National Museum, which presents the country’s history from prehistoric times to the present day. The Museum, the work of the French architect Jean Nouvel, is inspired by the crystals of the desert and exposes the history of the country, both with works of art and monuments, as well as with multimedia. At the same venue, the director of the Museum of Olympic Games and Sports, Abdulla Yousuf Al Mulla, presented to the minister the structure of the museum, which will be inaugurated in the coming months. The museum, the largest of its kind in the world, presents the history of the Olympic Games from Antiquity to their modern revival, until today, while emphasizing sports for all, through six different sports “environments”. As mentioned in their conversations by Lina Mendoni and the director of the Museum, the margins of cooperation between the two countries are extremely large, notes the announcement of the Ministry of Culture.

According to the same announcement, Mr. Mendoni also met yesterday with the director of the Cultural Center “Katara Village”, Dr. Khalid bin Ibrahim Al-Sulaiti, with whom he discussed the drawing up of a multi-year strategy for systematic and intense promotion of the Greek people. art, but also the presence of contemporary cultural creation at the Center. “Katara Village” is a multidimensional environment of culture and entertainment, the largest in Qatar, where exhibitions, screenings, concerts and theatrical performances are organized. Its central point is the open amphitheater with 5,000 seats.

Lina Mendoni also visited the Museum of Islamic Art, the work of the famous architect IM Pei, which hosts an exhibition unique in number and importance. It is noted that Greek conservators work in the museum. Special mention was made of the existing collaboration of the Museum of Islamic Art with the Islamic Collection of the Benaki Museum, as well as the prospect of co-organizing exhibitions of common interest.