Exhibition Centre wears festive mood for the draw
Web posted at: 8/1/2005 3:22:4
Source ::: The Peninsula
DOHA: The Qatar International Exhibition Centre – main venue of this year's Qatar Summer Wonders, was livelier yesterday evening due to the excitement and anticipation that the third raffle draw of the shopping festival which was held there. A total of 27 prizes totalling to QR375,000 were drawn for 27 lucky winners.
Some 300 women and children watched the draw from a special seating area that was set up for them opposite the stage where the draw was conducted.
Over a hundred other spectators watched from other vantage points at the QIEC while thousands saw Maria Metri conduct the draw along with officials from the Qatar Tourism Authority, Qatar Media Services and the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, telecast live by Qatar TV's Arabic channel.
The draw began shortly after 6pm and was officiated by Abdullah Al Kuwari, Mohammad Al Kuwari and Saleh Al Suwaidi, senior officials at the Ministry of Economy and Commerce.
Maria interviewed Bshara, the Oryx headed mascot of the Qatar Summer Wonders, who wished all shoppers who had dropped their coupons for the raffle, the best of luck to win a prize. Bshara later walked off the stage and attended to scores of kids who had gathered there to meet him.
He later returned to the stage to help with the draw.
Abdullah drew the first coupon, which carried a prize of cash QR 3,000, which was won by Qatari national, Mohammad Saleh Al Rumaihi. The second prize was drawn by Abdullah and the third, by Saleh.
Stilt walkers, musicians and other artistes paraded at the venue after all the coupons for the QR 3,000 prize were drawn, entertaining both old and young members of the audience.
Children were offered the opportunity to participate in some acts performed by these entertainers. The show was followed by drawing of coupons for cash prizes of QR 5,000 each.
Another entertainment show followed after all prizes of that denomination were drawn.
The audience held its breath still as Maria and the ministry officials proceeded to draw the bigger fish of the day- the prizes worth QR10,000, QR25,000, the second prize worth QR50,000 and the jackpot, QR100,000.
