The Years of Culture initiative initiative Monday announced the partnership with celebrated Qatari entrepreneur and athlete Ali bin Towar al-Kuwari who will serve as the CultuRide Ambassador. CultuRide is a premier programme of the Years of Culture.The appointment was announced at a signing ceremony at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (QOSM). Qatar Museums (QM) CEO Ahmed al-Namla, HE the Minister of State Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kawari, Qatar Cycling Federation president Dr Mohamed al-Kuwari, mountaineer, philanthropist and QOSM president Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Thani, Indonesian ambassador Ridwan Hassan and first Qatari female Ironman participant Lulwa al-Marri.The two-day CultuRide tour, taking place in June, will gather professional athletes and cycling enthusiasts in Yogyakarta, Indonesia for a cultural tour of important historical sites. As Ambassador, Ali bin Towar al-Kuwari will represent Qatar throughout the programme and galvanise international communities through love of sport and cultural exploration.The CultuRide tour will launch from Fort Vastenburg, an 18th-century Dutch fort located in Gladak, Surakarta, Central Java, a major regional landmark in Indonesia. Throughout the tour, participants will travel through and learn about several cultural destinations surrounding Solo and Yogyakarta, finally arriving at the largest Buddhist temple in the world at Borobudur.Led by Ali Bin Towar al-Kuwari, many of Qatar’s well-known athletes will travel to Indonesia for the CultuRide tour. It will be an inclusive event, with participants representing a variety of professional and amateur cycling clubs, along with para-cyclists from Qatar and Indonesia.QM director of Cultural Diplomacy Aisha Ghanem al-Attiya said: “The theme for this Year of Culture, Binneka, encourages us to weave together diverse cultural practices. Inspired by this calling, we are celebrating the incredible diversity of Indonesia by sharing it with Qatari residents through the eyes of one of the country’s most beloved adventurers and sportsmen. We are excited to see the stories he uncovers along the way.”CultuRide Ambassador Ali bin Towar al-Kuwari said: “I am honoured to have this opportunity to experience Indonesia through our shared love and appreciation of sport, especially cycling. Years of Culture is a powerful platform to explore the beauty of different places and people, which I will explore through the CultuRide programme and new documentaries being developed by my team.”Ali bin Towar al-Kuwari and his team are preparing two documentaries exploring the traditions and practices Qatar and Indonesia share, as well as highlighting unique experiences and practices found in both countries.
