Abdalla Al-Hamar said the preparations in Doha were impressive and said a big surprise awaits participants in Decembers' competition.

"I just came back from Doha three days ago and I could see that everything has changed. The spirit of the games is in place and we are ready to host the games," said the ambassador. "As Qatar loves to do something extraordinary, there will be a surprise which is something you have to wait and see."

More than 13,000 athletes and officials from 45 countries will participate in the quadrennial event from December 1-15.

Al-Hamar said the only concern now is to make the Asian Games the most successful ever as his country is also bidding to host the 2016 Olympics.

"Qatar is a secure country. We have prepared for years and If you go there you will see that it is safe," said the ambassador, who expects that Thailand's athletes will do well at the games.

"As I'm the ambassador for the State of Qatar to Thailand, I will support Thai athletes. With their abilities, Thai athletes will earn a lot of gold medals," he said.

Meanwhile, the Asian Games torch along with the official Ambassador of the Doha 2006 Torch Relay, Sheikh Joaan Bin Harmad Al Thani, are expected to arrive at 2pm today. The flame will be kept at the Supachalasai National Stadium before being carried around the city on Sunday.

The runners carrying the torch are all national athletes and include Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, who will be the last person runner and will light the cauldron on Sunday.

The torch is on a 55-day journey, the longest in Asian Games history. It will travel more than 20,000 kilometres and be carried by more than 3,000 athletes. The journey started in Qatar on October 8 and will cross 15 countries before returning to Doha on November 25.

Lerpong Amsa-ngiam

The Nation