The first-ever World Beach Games will take off with a spectacular opening ceremony at the Katara Cultural Village in Doha, thirty days from Thursday.

Marking the occasion, the mascot of the event – a fun-loving dolphin called Dolphy – was unveiled on Wednesday, with the hosts promising a memorable event at four locations in and around Doha from October 12 to 16.

The Games, which will also be known as Qatar 2019, is the brainchild of Association of National Olympic Committees (ANOC), with Qatar stepping in as hosts at the last minute.

Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Secretary General Jassim bin Rashid Al Buenain said, “With the hosting of the World Beach Games Qatar 2019, we are once again demonstrating our readiness to host another world-class event even at short notice.

“Preparations are in top gear and we can’t wait enough to welcome the world to Doha. We believe Qatar 2019 will set a great benchmark for future events”.

Events will be held at Katara Beach, Al Gharafa, Aspire Park and Ritz Carlton canal.

Capturing the spirit of the Games is ‘Dolphy.’ Speaking on the unveiling of the mascot, Sheikha Asma Al Thani, Director of Marketing and Ceremonies for Qatar 2019, said, “Dolphy is the official mascot of the Games and fully embodies the spirit of Qatar 2019 as the Games promise to be not just a competition, but an event designed to provide unparalleled entertainment and fun for the entire family”.

Sheikha Asma described the relevance of Dolphy to Qatar. “By nature, dolphins exhibit temperaments that are associated with kindness and peace and they are driven to make those around them happy by creating a tranquil atmosphere of acceptance.

“These attributes resonate well with us in Qatar and we believe all participants will leave here with lasting memories of this historic event and our great hospitality as well,” she said.

Although the event gets underway from October 12, the opening rounds of a few events will be held on October 11.