Doha, Qatar – On Sunday, the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (3-2-1 QOSM) officially launched the 3-2-1 Cultural Olympiad exhibition, a vibrant showcase featuring nearly 400 original artworks by students representing 28 public and private schools across the country.
This initiative reflects the museum’s ongoing dedication to fostering education, encouraging artistic expression, and upholding the foundational values of the Olympic movement.
Bringing together the worlds of sport and art, the event highlighted how students were inspired by the museum’s exhibits to explore and creatively express the principles of the Olympic and Paralympic Games. Their resulting works powerfully conveyed the essence of Olympism.
The exhibition is a key part of the broader 3-2-1 Cultural Olympiad program, which will culminate in an award ceremony on June 24. The ceremony will honour outstanding student contributions, with attendance from school leaders, educators, students, judging panel members, and representatives from major partners including the Ministry of Education and Higher Education and the Qatar International Art Festival.
Drawing inspiration from Baron Pierre de Coubertin—the visionary behind the modern Olympics—the program merges sports with art, aiming to revive the original Olympic spirit by spotlighting the intersection of creativity and athletic achievement.
Abdulla Yousuf Al Mulla, Director of 3-2-1 QOSM, told Qatar News Agency (QNA) that the exhibition reflects the museum’s mission to foster Olympic culture through student-created artworks, which allow young participants to express their talents to museum visitors.
Al Mulla explained that the concept took shape in January 2025, when student submissions began pouring in. Following a thorough technical review process, around 400 of the finest pieces were selected for the final display. He emphasized the remarkable creativity students demonstrated in producing these high-caliber works.
These selected pieces—crafted by students from a diverse range of schools—stand as a testament to both artistic quality and the students’ deep engagement with Olympic and Paralympic histories and values, Al Mulla noted.
He extended an open invitation to the public to explore the exhibition, pointing out how it not only celebrates Qatar’s growing global presence in sports but also seeks to inspire young minds to appreciate the cultural and humanistic facets of athletics. The initiative, he added, strengthens the revival of Olympic ideals through education, art, and creativity.
Also speaking to QNA, renowned Qatari artist Yousef Ahmad—recipient of the State Appreciation Award for visual arts in its sixth cycle—praised the museum’s commitment to advancing the arts and spotlighting student creativity. He said the initiative enriches public artistic awareness and bridges the gap between cultural institutions and the community.
Ahmad emphasized how the exhibition cultivates Olympic culture by nurturing young artistic talent from early on, in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.
He also stressed the importance of supporting young creatives by involving families and integrating art education at an institutional level. This, he said, lays the foundation for a thriving, culturally engaged generation and strengthens artistic participation across society.
Ahmad further called for academic investment in the arts and the development of design projects that reflect the values and goals of sports, encouraging young people to explore these intersections.
Ultimately, this event echoes an Olympic tradition that once saw medals awarded for art forms—including literature, visual arts, music, sculpture, and architecture—alongside athletic competitions between 1912 and 1948, reaffirming the deep historical bond between sport and artistic excellence.