Big swing with a small ball

It is amazing how the oil-rich countries of the Persian Gulf have this ability to zoom in on the most insignificant detail about their country and transform it into something of historical significance. Take Qatar for example. In the mid-1990s I was invited by the government to attend the first tourism festival in the country. I accepted the all expense paid junket almost as a joke to find out what Qatar had to offer as a tourism destination. My early recollection of Qatar in the 1980s was wide empty spaces and open roads punctuated with a few modern buildings, including the only five-star hotel in the country. Upon arriving at the airport, I was whisked away from the other passengers then taken into a small VIP hall and treated with all the usual amenities given to visiting dignitaries. The next morning, when I went down to join the other guests