(MENAFN- Gulf Times) Aspire4Sport
Congress and Exhibition made a successful opening at Chelsea's Stamford
Bridge in London yesterday. The two-day event is designed to shape the
future of the sports industry, enhance the fan experience and spread
best practice in athlete development.
In attendance were the
Minister of Culture and Sports His Excellency Salah bin Ghanem bin
Nasser al-Ali, Qatar's ambassador to the United Kingdom, Yousef bin Ali
al-Khater, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC)
secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck.
The
Aspire Academy welcomed some of the world's leading tech companies,
major European and Qatari sports industry professionals, as well as
representatives from 80 of the world's most prestigious football clubs
that form part of the Aspire in the World Fellows community, making it
one of the most influential gatherings of its kind in the world. The
community includes Manchester United, Arsenal, Barcelona, Real Madrid,
Paris Saint-Germain, AC Milan and Juventus among others.
Among
sporting greats in attendance, included former Italian coach Arrigo
Sacchi, former Newcastle United coach Kevin Keegan, as well as Aspire
Academy graduate, and Qatar's high jumping world champion Mutaz Barshim.
Former Netherland international footballer Ronald de Boer was also in
attendance.
'It's a great event which has been really well
organised. I think the event is really important as it will help people
to evolve and to improve. Listening to others, comparing with others,
it's something that will make you better, Sacchi, who managed one of
the greatest AC Milan teams of all time, said.
One of the major
themes from the first day was the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar, with a
focus on the progress being made both on and off the field by the Qatari
national football team, and the development of the Qatar's stadiums in
the run up to the event.
In a Star Chat, hosted by Sky Sports' Hayley
McQueen, Keegan said that he believes the World Cup will be a success.
'I think Qatar will surprise a lot of people with the World Cup. I think
it will be a great world cup, no doubt about it, he said.
In
another Star Chat later in that day, Barshim discussed his intention to
inspire future generation of athletes to do great things, both in Qatar
and around the world.
'I want to be remembered for being the greatest
ever. I want to be someone that inspires people to get out and do
something with their life, he said.
He also highlighted how
partnering with the Aspire Academy has helped him to not only compete
with the best athletes in the world, but to beat them, as he did by
winning gold at the most recent World Championships held in London.
He
said: 'The Aspire Academy is the pillar for sportspeople in Doha. Not
just in football but also for athletics. At the Aspire Academy, there
are so many people working hard to make sure Qatar has athletes
performing at the highest level.
'The most important thing the
Academy taught me was self-confidence. It changed my mindset as an
athlete, as I started to see myself as a professional athlete in my
mind.
'Another thing they gave me is time. Some parents think sport is a waste of time; you should concentrate on studies.
'But
with the Aspire Academy, I didn't have to choose. I received both the
best sports training and an education delivered to the highest standard.
Here you have everything in the same place, along with the best coaches
and the best facilities.
Last updated: October 07 2017 12:17 AM
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