Doha: Excitement 'Towers' as French Spiderman Scales New 'Heights'
Pics: Alexis Castelino
Daijiworld Media Network - Doha
Doha, Apr 13 (Gulf Times): Thousands of spectators turned out at Aspire Zone yesterday to watch ‘Spiderman’ Alain Robert set a Guinness World Record for climbing the 300m-high Aspire Tower in the fastest time, unassisted.
The Frenchman completed the impressive feat in 1 hour, 33 minutes and 47 seconds, and was awarded with a certificate by Andrea Banfi from the Guinness team for achieving what is his third record. “He is setting the record and it is very exciting for us,” she said before the climb.
“I am very happy,” said Robert upon completing the task, saying that despite difficult wind conditions, he felt spurred on to finish the task in hand by the huge level of support shown to him by fans in Qatar.
Robert explained that the climb had been organized as a result of his friendship with a US-based Al Jazeera journalist, adding that he had wanted to climb the tower since the first time he saw the structure.
“I wasn’t scared but there were a lot of factors that made it extremely difficult for me to reach the top of the Torch, including the wind and the structure of the building,” he said, adding “I wasn’t able to turn around but I could hear the crowd below cheering for me.”
“I hope to come back soon to Aspire Zone in Doha,” he added.
The general manager of the Torch Doha Hotel, Gerhard Foltin, said that he was very proud to watch the event taking place at the hotel, and was impressed with the turnout from the public.
“This was a long time in the planning, and Alain has visited a number of times expressing his wish to climb the hotel,” said Foltin, adding “the wind was strong but everything went very well and it was very well organised.”
“We are really grateful that Spiderman is here at the Torch - it was a great event, seeing him climb such an iconic building, and he has great character,” he said, noting “we hope to see him again.”
Foltin explained that the organisers were expecting between 2,000 and 3,000 attendees, but said that the actual figure was more like 7,000.
One member of the crowd, British expatriate Chris, said: “I was anxious watching him so high up without any safety equipment, and it was amazing that he completed the climb with the difficult windy conditions.”
His friend Patrick noted: “It was unbelievable to watch him climb so easily up the Torch – that is something which no one in their right mind would try and attempt! Yet he did it and I was glad to get the opportunity to see such an incredible feat take place here in Doha.”
The thousands of cheering fans, who tried desperately to reach Robert after his climb, were an indication of the man’s ability to inspire people from all over the world through taking on seemingly impossible tasks with courage and skill. And watching the man scale the highest structure in Doha was yet another example of the memorable events which have been taking place here in recent times.