The Garden of GREAT - UK's pavilion in Doha - has attracted more than 30,000 football fans, including many dignitaries so far, since it opened in time for the ongoing FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, British ambassador Jon Wilks said on Thursday.
"You have here the ancient diversity represented by the two teams (England and Wales) and the modern diversity of the UK, which comes from the communities that have migrated since the Second World War in the last 70 years, mainly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, but also from the Afro-Caribbean Islands and more recently from Africa and the Commonwealth countries," he explained.
"You will see elements here of modern technology, interactive technology, obviously horticulture and we're going to use some elements of this garden for the Horticultural Expo 2023, which will be held in Doha next year," he told reporters at a tour and talk yesterday at the pavilion, which reflects the stunning and colourful gardens in the UK.
Almost a third of all visits annually to the UK include a trip to a garden or park with those visitors spending a total of £8.9 billion during their stay, it was pointed out.
The Garden of GREAT, open throughout the tournament, provides an opportunity for residents and visitors not only to unwind but also discover British culture without leaving the Middle East. Presented by the UK Government's GREAT campaign, the garden puts a spotlight on UK creativity and diversity, inviting visitors to see a different side of the UK through a series of immersive installations, showcasing UK music, design, fashion and food.
From ice-cream crafted by Michelin starred chef Vineet Bhatia and singing stepping-stones from Nigerian-Welsh music artist Kima Otung, to flowers scented by world renowned perfumer Jo Malone CBE the garden is a global showcase of #GREATCreativity across music, food, fashion, art and design.
The garden also hosted a series of live performances as part of The British Council’s UK Festival which ran from November 23 to 29, including DJs Jamz Supernova and Katie Owen, in addition to ‘For the Game’ parkour shows by the Urban Playground, and Welsh rap and hip-hop artist Todz.
With a a large number of visitors visiting Qatar during the tournament, the GREAT programme at the World Cup aims to inspire GCC and international audiences to visit, study, and do business in the UK.
