Qatar-Indonesia 2023 Year of Culture Highlights Importance of Sports as Key to Cross-cultural Collaboration

The Years of Culture (YoC) initiative today announced the partnerships with celebrated Qatari entrepreneur and athlete Ali Bin Towar al-Kuwari who will serve as Ambassador for one of the year’s premier programs – CultuRide. The 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 Twar al-Kuwari will represent Qatar throughout the program and galvanize international communities through love of sport and cultural exploration. 

The appointment was announced at a signing ceremony at the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum in the presence of Qatar Museums CEO Ahmed Al Namla, State Minister Dr. Hamad Bin Abdulaziz Al-Kuwari, Qatar Cycling Federation President Dr. Mohamed Al Kuwari, mountaineer and philanthropist Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Thani and first Qatari female Ironman participant Lulwa Al-Marri.

Qatar Museums’ 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 honored 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 program and new documentaries being developed by my team.”

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 two-day 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. 

Along with spearheading the CultuRide, 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.