By Bonnie James
The Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club has chosen Virginia Commonwealth University in Qatar students to design two trophies for two of its most prestigious events, the Qatar Prix de l’ Arc de Triomphe and the Qatar Arabian World Cup.
QREC general manager Sami Jassim al-Boenain gave a presentation in this regard to the VCUQatar community about creating the designs for the trophy.
QREC will be selecting the top three designs for each trophy and providing certificates of recognition to the winners while also promoting the winners in their promotional material.
VCUQatar is also being awarded a full scholarship by QREC for designing the trophies.
VCUQatar Associate Dean of Academic Affairs Charles Bleick, Art Foundation Assistant Professor Kathleen Ferguson, Fashion Design Assistant Professor Donald Earley were among those present at the presentation.
This isn’t the first time VCUQatar students have been called on to design for the Qatari community. VCUQatar graduate Mary Anne Skill designed the Qatar Foundation Award for Courage trophy for Oryx Quest 2005 and in 2008 VCUQatar fashion design students designed uniforms for the Qatar Symphony Orchestra.
In August 2007, VCUQatar’s Center for Research in Design was commissioned by the Doha 2016 Bid Committee to design the logo for the Doha 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Bid and the logo designed by Fatma al-Mogunni and Lejla Niksic was accepted for official use.
Considered the most prestigious flat race, the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe is a reference throughout the world. In December 2008, QREC signed a 5 year exclusive partnership agreement with France Galop and The Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe took an important step forward in partnership terms by becoming the Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe with prize money of € 4,000,000 making it the most richly rewarded turf race in the world.
The Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe, held during the first weekend of October at Longchamp, attracts around 70 000 spectators, nearly 700 media representatives from 25 countries, as well as 1 billion TV viewers worldwide.
The weekend programme of Qatar Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe includes 15 thoroughbred races of which seven are Group 1 races and one is a Group 1 race for Pure Arab Horse - The Qatar Arabian World Cup.
Last year, The Qatar Arabian World Cup was included, for the first time, in the programme of the Arc Day of racing as part of the new partnership. With prize money of €450,000, it became the most prestigious race for pure Arabian horses. |
