Doha’s internationally acclaimed Academy for Sports Excellence, ASPIRE, recently played host to a ‘Spirit of Sport’ workshop, a coming together of some of the world’s pre-eminent experts in the field of sport science, design and exhibitions as the Academy explores ways of improving still further the impact and value of its visitor experience.
Always seeking to enhance its reputation for innovation and excellence in the field of sports, and following one of its key visions of promoting a stronger sporting culture in Qatar and the region, ASPIRE is in the development stage of creating an unique in-house sport science based experience, one which Dean of ASPIRE, Prof. Dr. Dieter Hackfort, President of the International Society of Sport Psychology (ISSP), says will showcase ‘the history of sport, its present as well as taking a look into the future’.
Since ASPIRE’s unique sports Dome, the largest multi-sport arena of its kind in the world, was officially opened in November 2005, the Academy has become a must-see venue in Doha and has attracted a legion of visitors both domestically and from overseas. It is this level of interest and fascination that the ‘Spirit of Sport’ project wishes to now harness.
The lively and productive two-day workshop was designed to explore how both local and international audiences can be encouraged - through immersive and interactive experiences – to learn more about sport, the excitement of movement actions, and the benefits to be gained from adopting a healthier lifestyle.
The Academy provides a holistic learning environment featuring comprehensive sporting, academic and social education and selects and trains the most promising of Qatari youth with the aim of turning them into future international champions, but also leads inclusive community programs, to promote an active lifestyle and sports participation.
Delegates from the world of exhibitions, universities and well known institutes attended the event.
”The workshop was a great opportunity for the exchange of various experiences and ideas, as well as for brainstorming and the creation of future perspectives on the ‘Spirit of Sport’ in the country and across the world,” said Prof. Dr. Hackfort, who acted as moderator during the workshop.
ASPIRE will review the results to elaborate on the concept and then decide how best to realize the ‘Spirit of Sport’ experience at the Academy in the near future.
About ASPIRE
ASPIRE, the Academy for Sports Excellence, Doha, was created with the dual aims of identifying and transforming promising student athletes into world renowned champions across a wide range of sports and to act as a beacon to draw sporting culture into the centre of life in Qatar and the surrounding region.
The Academy is distinguished by a philosophy which aims to develop the whole student, providing them with full academic, social and sporting development.
Unrivalled facilities mark the Academy out as one of the world’s foremost sporting and educational institutions, and entice an ever increasing number of visitors from across the spectrum of world sports to use or simply view them. These same facilities will also play host to events during the forthcoming Asian Games 2006.
With one indoor and seven outdoor football pitches, athletics tracks, an Olympic-sized swimming pool, diving pool, combat arenas, gymnastics arena, specially designed weight rooms, lecture halls, dormitories to accommodate what will eventually become 1,000 students, a medical centre and more besides, much beneath the world’s largest purpose built indoor sports dome, every aspect of the development of elite athletes is catered for. ASPIRE is a place for those who dare to dream.
ASPIRE TODAY, INSPIRE TOMORROW
www.aspire.qa
