Milton’s Arabian adventure

Kiama Downs’ Milton O’Brien has left Australia to take up his new position as General Manager of Venues and Visitor services at the Aspire Zone sports and entertainment complex at Doha, capital city of Qatar in the United Arab Emirates.

Marketing manager of the WIN Entertainment Centre for the past 11 years, he sees his new position as a challenge – one he is looking forward to.

“The Aspire Zone was built in 2006 when Qatar hosted the Asian games and covers more than a 250-hectare site and was built as a lasting legacy, through their state-of-the-art facility,” Mr. O’Brien said.

The incredible complex boasts sport, recreation, leisure, retail, tourism, sports-science and educational centres that, according to Mr. O’Brien, have to be seen to be believed.

“The first event I will be in charge of is a football (soccer) friendly between England and Brazil in the 55,000 seat Khalifa Stadium on November 14, while we will host the World Athletics Championships in March 2010, and I can’t wait,” he said.

The six floors Khalifa Stadium, apart from its huge capacity, is six floors of style and comfort and includes two swimming pools, corporate suites and dining rooms, a 150 car undercover car park and change rooms.

There is also the Hamad Aquatic Centre and the Women’s Sports Hall, which can host basketball, handball and volleyball and can seat 2,500 people, the Ladies Club with tennis courts, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, squash courts, hairdresser and beauty parlour as well as a ballroom.

The Aspire Sports Hall is credited as the world’s largest indoor multi-purpose sports dome with a 6,500 seat FIFA standard football pitch an Olympic size swimming pool, an IAAF accredited indoor athletics track, gymnastics training hall and table tennis hall, basketball courts and an area for martial arts.

The Aspire Sports Academy is recognised as a sports centre of excellence with a sports testing laboratory, has medical and sports science facilities, auditorium, gymnasium, classrooms and a 138-room dormitory.

“Basically the centre is a cross between the Olympic Park precinct and the Australian Institute of Sport.

“There is also a massive shopping centre and mall, hospital and mosque, which are the only things I won’t be in charge of,” Mr O’Brien said.

“I will be third in line in management and will have various managers and department heads working under me,” he said.

While he is a little sad to be leaving the WIN Entertainment Centre, he said he leaves confident of the centre’s continued success.

“The recent announcement of the 29m dollars for the redevelopment of the WIN Stadium has guaranteed the future of the centre and the Wollongong Hawks are leading the comp – what better way to go out,” he added.

Mr. O’Brien’s wife, Janet, will join him in Doha in February next year.