Qatar sport COVERMG.indd - Qatar Olympic Committee

More documents

Recommendations

Info

UPDATE Richard Attias and Carl Lewis launch Doha GOALS in London during the Olympic Games. DOHA GOALS CALLS FOR ACTION SPORT’S POWER FOR GOOD IS THE KEY TO A NEW, DOHA-BASED GLOBAL INITIATIVE Doha GOALS, a new initiative designed to promote sport as a driver for social and economic change, was unveiled at Bayt Qatar, the Qatar Olympic Committee’s London headquarters, during the 2012 Olympic Games. Presented by Richard Attias, the former producer of the globallyrenowned World Economic Forum in Davos, and athletics legend Carl Lewis, the media launch explained how Doha GOALS aims to build a community of hundreds of key “influencers” from all spheres of life who believe sport is a crucial vehicle for social and economic development. The initiative, from the Aspire Zone Foundation and Richard Attias & Associates, under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, will see the first Doha GOALS Forum take place in December this year. Below, event producer Richard Attias tells Qatar Sport why the time is right for Doha GOALS. How did you personally get involved in setting up Doha GOALS? One year ago, I had a conversation with the Qatari leadership about how sport is part of Qatar’s DNA. We thought that launching an initiative which could have a real impact in the region and in the world could be a great added value. From this idea, we moved to the concept and a concrete project. Why is Doha the right place at the right time to host Doha GOALS? My first visit in Doha was in 1995 when I was working on bringing the World Economic Forum summit to Qatar. Since then, I have followed how Qatar has progressed with a real vision and how sport is an important part of that vision. Doha has the legitimacy to host the Doha GOALS Forum and to be the driving force of that initiative. Having hosting the Asian Games, the Arab Games, the Tour of Qatar, and thanks to the amazing Aspire Zone Foundation, Qatar has demonstrated its credibility. Why is there a need for such an international Forum? It’s more than a Forum. It’s a call to action with the will and the wish to launch several initiatives all over the world, for youth and in several fields: education, heath, and economic development. Based on that, there is always a need for such an initiative like Doha GOALS. How did the international media respond to the launch at Bayt Qatar in London during the Olympics? To be honest, I was very surprised, in a positive way, to see the great response. More than 45 media leaders came to our launch during the Olympic Games and we received great support from sporting legends like Carl Lewis, Ian Thorpe and 10 | Issue 19 | Qatar Sport
UPDATE Jose-Marie Perec, to name but a few. This was a fabulous plus and we could not have hoped for better exposure. In addition, Bayt Qatar was a first-class environment and the great hospitality of Sheikh Saoud, added to his personal involvement, was the guarantee of success. What are your hopes for the inaugural Doha Goals Forum, December 10-12? To make the difference! To create a community who shares the same values around sport and to give a voice to people who never have a chance to do so. But the most important thing is to support the vision of His Highness the Emir of Qatar by launching initiatives, which will have a great impact on the youth. I am very confident due to the high quality of top executives from Qatar who are the driving force of the Doha GOALS project. What tangible outcomes are you hoping to see from Doha GOALS in the next five to 10 years? Full commitment of the private sector to finance initiatives; a change in sports policies at government level in some countries; the creation of sport academies inspired by the Aspire business model; and, last but not least, more partnerships built thanks to Doha GOALS. Would you consider joining forces with other like-minded organisations? We are open to everyone who can bring added value and enhance the mission of Doha GOALS. I am a strong believer of merging talents, ideas, initiatives. Doha GOALS is a catalyst and like the Davos Forum or the Clinton Global Initiative, which I produced in the past, it’s a platform for active and committed potential members. PROTECTING SPORT’S INTEGRITY DEL PIERO JOINS QOC DRIVE Just days after he secured his own future by signing for Australian football side Sydney FC, Italian footballer Alessandro Del Piero spoke about the corruption issues facing his fellow peers at the 2012 Sorbonne- ICSS (International Centre for Sport and Security) Sport Integrity Symposium in Paris. “To think that football can be associated with criminal behaviour is very sad and compromises the very credibility of sport,” said the former Juventus striker. “I am proud and honoured to be able to participate in the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC)’s new ‘Save the Dream’ initiative, which will aim to raise awareness amongst young athletes and children of the dangers of match-fixing and inspire a new generation of athletes to safeguard the integrity of sport.” A major part of the ‘Save the Dream’ initiative is the creation of a panel consisting of 11 high-profile athletes from different sports and regions around the world, as well as a multidisciplinary team composed of world-leading experts in education, communications, sport management and sport integrity. According to Del Piero, who will chair the project, “protecting the credibility and integrity of sport is essential if we want to inspire a new generation of young people to take up sport.” Also speaking at the symposium was ICSS president Alessandro Del Piero speaks at the ICSS Sport Integrity Symposium in Paris. Mohammed Hanzab and Chris Eaton, FIFA’s former head of security who is now director of sport integrity at the ICSS. “Alessandro Del Piero is a legend of football whose loyalty and integrity makes him the ideal ambassador for the Save the Dream initiative,” said Hanzab. “In addition, the key learnings from this year’s symposium will provide major sports bodies with a practical framework for understanding and handling complex integrity issues which will be a major step towards eradicating all forms of corruption in sport.” The 2012 Sorbonne-ICSS Sport Integrity Symposium has the official support of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO). LAUNCH FOR ANTI-DOPING LAB The Anti-Doping Lab Qatar (ADLQ), the first specialised facility of its kind in the Gulf and the whole of West Asia, is set to be opened under the auspices of H.H. the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani this December. The state-of-the-art laboratory will conduct advanced tests and research to eliminate the use of illegal performanceenhancing drugs in all sports and uphold the Olympic ideals of fair play and sportsmanship. Located within Aspire Zone, the facility will also protect the health of the Qatari public through tests conducted in its toxicology and research laboratories in support of the anti-doping and multi-purpose labs. Qatar Sport | Issue 19 | 11
Page 1 and 2: ISSUE 19 OCTOBER 2012 $10 DOHA GOAL
Page 3 and 4: INSIDE 5 In Focus Sporting life thr
Page 5 and 6: 1 THE SPORTING WORLD THROUGH THE LE
Page 7 and 8: 5 Qatar Sport | Issue 19 | 7
Page 12: UPDATE INBRIEF TREnTIno TARgETs
Page 15 and 16: SUPERSTAR PROFILE THE MAJOR MAN As
Page 17 and 18: SUPERSTAR PROFILE “McIlroy’s co
Page 19 and 20: COMING UP 5-14/12 PSA World Squash
Page 21 and 22: MY LONDON 2012 “I believe that th
Page 24 and 25: FIT FOR LIFE HITTING THE TARGET The
Page 26 and 27: Leaders: Incisive opinion and livel
Page 29 and 30: QATAR STARS LEAGUE LOOK TO THE STAR
Page 31 and 32: 7 AL WAKRA Captain of the iraq nati
Page 33 and 34: Championships, Qatar 2016 Olympic B
Page 35 and 36: Winning margins at FIFA World Cup a

Qatar sport COVERMG.indd - Qatar Olympic Committee

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?