Hundreds take part in activities at Aspire Academy

As part of the 12th Qatar National Sports Day (NSD) celebrations, several hundred people of all ages took part in activities at the Aspire Academy to promote healthy living and raise awareness of fitness among the people of Qatar. A football tournament with players born in 2014 drawn from 11 local teams was held at the Aspire Dome along with several other activities. The events at the academy were attended by Mohamed Khalifa al-Suwaidi, CEO of the Aspire Zone Foundation. Al-Suwaidi stressed the key role that the foundation and academy play in Qatar’s sports culture. “The Aspire Zone Foundation and its world-class facilities are considered to be one of the pillars of the sports sector in Qatar,” he said. “Not only do we offer state-of-the-art international-standard facilities such as laboratories and hospitals, but also other areas such as Aspire Park, the outdoor courts as well as the hiking, j hiking and biking trails. “We were the first to offer these amenities in Qatar, giving access to a sporting lifestyle for everyone, not just those training to be elite athletes.” One of the other high-profile visitors to witness the organized NSD activities was by Aspire Academy the new coach of the Qatar national football team, Carlos Queiroz. The former Egypt and Iran coach was impressed by the offer. “That’s wonderful. The atmosphere, enthusiasm and happiness that you see only sport can match,” said Queiroz. “Events like this are exactly what we need. I hope that one day it will be every day – or at least an hour or two a day. This will help people get healthy. It’s crucial (Aspire Academy organizes events like this) because academies are role models for other institutions, schools, clubs and companies around the world.” They should also organize things for people to create generations that are healthier and happier , with a better standard of living.” Valter Di Salvo, Director of Football Performance and Science at Aspire Academy, commended Qatar for introducing NSD not only to keep them physically fit but also mentally fit,” he explained. “Sport teaches you to be competitive, to be consistent, to respect norms and these are all things that help kids to be better people in life – not just in sports. On that day, people can get to know the sport and maybe start a new journey in life.” The soccer tournament, held on two of our outdoor pitches, was eventually won by Al Ahli when they defeated Muaither 2-1 in the final. In a statement, Aspire Academy thanked the other participating clubs – Al Gharafa, Al Shamal, Mesaimeer, Al Arabi, Al Duhail, Umm Salal, Kharaitiyat, Qatar Sports Club and Sailiya. A series of exercises to test oneself took place on the indoor soccer field, while several “team building” took place in the volleyball hall. Activities, events also take place in the gym and one of the multi-purpose halls. All 387 participants in the “Test Yourself” events, including skipping, soccer dribbling, time sprints and vertical and horizontal jumps, were awarded a certificate. The Team B building area welcomed 201 visitors, who enjoyed alternative ways to exercise, such as the use of virtual reality headsets and an inflatable tournament area. Another hall was dedicated to testing the gymnastic skills of 120 visitors while practicing things like balance, rope climbing and using the climbing wall. There was also an area where 234 participants tried out badminton and basketball, while other activities were designed to test their throwing accuracy and their maneuverability over an obstacle course.