Doha: Aspire Academy this week re-opened its doors for the 2015-16 academic year welcoming a new intake of future Qatari sports stars.

The number of students enrolled this year reached a record of approximately 250 up from 219 last year. This increase comes as interest in the training opportunities available at Aspire Academy is growing along with improving standards of athletic and sporting performance amongst young people in Qatar enabling greater numbers to fulfil the Academy’s enrolment requirements.

This year the Academy will also introduce some important additions to its programme. An agreement with the committee of referees at Qatar Football Association (QFA) means that five junior referees aged 15 and 16 will be given the opportunity to take part in a dedicated training programme with access to all of the Academy’s facilities and infrastructure.

This reflects Aspire Academy’s expanding role in promoting a sports culture in Qatar developing officials as well as athletes.

The 2015-16 academic year also marks a crucial milestone for the Academy which is finalising preparations for its application to receive official accreditation from the Council of International Schools (CIS) with a final decision due in November. This represents the culmination of a five-year long process begun in 2010 to identify and apply for accreditation from the most appropriate international awarding body. During this time the Academy has cooperated fully with the CIS in fulfilling all of the necessary requirements and criteria achieving membership of the council in 2013.

Commenting on the start of the new academic year Badr Jassim Al Hay Director of Education and Student Care said: “We are excited to welcome this year’s intake of student-athletes to join those already building their futures here. In meeting our responsibilities to support the country’s sporting success we are always keen to provide the Academy’s students with the best opportunities to develop their education. We will continue to do so as part of our efforts to motivate and support our students to achieve their full academic and sporting potential.”

Principal Jassim Mohammed Al Jabir also commented: “The first day back to school is always an exciting time and it’s great to see that our students have returned with refreshed appetites to learn and grow. This year we welcome a greater number of new students further evidence of the Academy’s sporting and educational role and contribution towards helping achieve the Qatar National Vision 2030. We wish our students the best of luck in the coming year and look forward to supporting them with their studies and the development of their sporting talent.”

Aspire Academy first opened its doors in 2004 and is considered to be one of the leading sports institutes in the Middle East. The Academy offers an integrated educational program of sports development sports science and academic learning to boys aged 12 to 18.

The school develops well-educated sports champions and aims to become the world’s leading sports academy for young athletes by 2020.