In cooperation with the British Council
Doha, February 18th, 2014: Aspire Academy is hosting Qatar's first ever workshop, focusing on the theme of 'Youth, Sport and Health - A global problem'. The three-day workshop, which began on Tuesday, is the result of Aspire Academy teaming up with the British Council as part of the Council's 'Researcher Links' initiative.
Aspire Zone Foundation's Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Mr Khalid Abdullah Al-Sulaiteen opened the workshop by stressing the importance of Qatar's cooperation with the United Kingdom in the fields of health and sports. He said: "Our youth, sports and health is especially important to us. And today, we want to share with you the results of the latest research in the field of sports around the world. We have a wonderful opportunity to identify and discuss the difficulties facing specialists and policy makers within the sports industry, and combine our efforts to find the best solutions."
Mr Al-Sulaiteen spoke about the Foundation's role in promoting sports, saying: "Aspire Zone Foundation is proud to adopt ideas that can help propel sports on every level. This is reflected in our constant efforts in organizing conferences and seminars, and launching new initiatives involving youth, sports and health."
"Aspire is proud to organize events such as Doha Goals and the Aspire4Sports Conference and Exhibition, in addition to launching numerous initiatives to encourage the community to embrace different sports. The "Step into Health" program and the Aspire Active program are just two of our highly successful initiatives that bring the whole community together."
Over three days, several presentations and discussions will be held about the scientific aspects of sport and health research in Qatar and the UK. Research scholarships offered by various institutions in Qatar will also be presented during the workshop.
Aspire Academy is hoping that the workshop will also help to uncover potential research opportunities relevant to Qatar's research priorities. Professor Tim Cable, Director of Sports Science at Aspire Academy, said: "We are keen for scientists in the UK and research fund entities in Qatar to join forces and find a mechanism to conduct research about healthy lifestyles and sports in the region. Ultimately, we hope to apply these results in Qatar, working in harmony with the Qatari society."
Researchers from the Sports Science's department at Aspire Academy will present the results of varying research about encouraging children and adolescents in Qatar to be physically active. Mr Badr Jassim Al-Hay, Director of Education and Student Care at Aspire Academy commented: "The Academy's participation in this workshop is helping to make the research community aware of the role we play in the field of research, alongside our role in developing sport talents and academic education."
Mr Al-Hay added: "At Aspire Academy, we are fully equipped to conduct research and have skilled researchers working in state-of-the-art laboratories, formulating theories and design applications, so that coaches and their students can adopt and further develop them."
The Sports Science department at Aspire Academy offers field and performance evaluations, in additions to various anthropometric and growth measurements to Aspire Academy students. More than 17000 tests and testing sessions are held yearly.
About Aspire Academy
Since opening its doors in 2004, Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence has become one of the foremost national sports academies in the world. The Academy is conceiving, promoting and implementing game-changing excellence in sports training and elite athlete development that is enabling an entire generation of talented, disciplined and committed individuals, both Qataris and internationals to pursue their sports dreams.
In addition to it being one of the world's leading sports institutes, the Aspire Academy seeks to promote an active sporting healthy lifestyle through specific community programs: Aspire Active, Aspire Multisport Skill Development Program, and Aspire Football Dreams. While enriching the lives of people and youth alike, the Aspire Academy has already reached out to over two million young footballers throughout Asia, Latin American and Africa through its programs such as the Aspire Football Dreams.
Together with the other members of the Aspire Zone Foundation (Aspire Logistics and ASPETAR Qatar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital), the Aspire Academy is developing sports champions, promoting healthy lifestyles and galvanizing the sports economy of today, and the future.
© Press Release 2014
