Student athletes who have successfully passed through ASPIRE’s rigorous talent identification process learned that they have been accepted into the elite Academy for sports excellence at a ceremony held yesterday.
In total, sixty students have been selected through the program, which tested the sporting potential and athletic ability of almost 5,000 male students in the sixth and seventh grade and almost 3,000 female students in the sixth grade across Qatar.
The successful students attended the ceremony with their families, where senior members of the ASPIRE teaching and training faculties congratulated them on their success and informed them of the mission of the Doha-based Academy.
Those who have earned scholarships will now attend the Academy as full-time student athletes, starting from the new term in September. Initially, they will receive training across a range of sports, along with a high level academic education and will also have the chance to specialize in specific sports, e.g. football, athletics, table tennis, squash, tennis and sailing.
Following a welcome address by Dr. Thomas Flock, Director General at ASPIRE, and speeches from Dr. Andreas Bleicher, Sports Manager, and Prof. Dr. Dieter Hackfort, Academy Dean, the parents had the opportunity to pose questions to the faculty.
The discussion that followed enabled parents to learn about the quality of education offered at ASPIRE, as well the care and attention that is paid to all aspects of the student athletes’ experience while studying at ASPIRE.
Many parents at the event expressed their pride that their children had been chosen for the prestigious program and were glad they had the opportunity to tour the impressive facilities and meet the teaching staff.
ASPIRE Dean, Prof. Dr. Dieter Hackfort said: “Family play a central role in the career of student athletes, through encouragement and social support, so ASPIRE looks to involve parents at every step of their children’s development.
“Feedback from the meeting was extremely positive and we look forward to welcoming the new year of children in September.”
Dr. Andreas Bleicher, Sports Manager, added: “The successful students have made it through a highly rigorous and scientific identification program, and should be congratulated for their achievement.
“The meeting with parents offered the opportunity to welcome our new students to ASPIRE and introduce them to the exciting program of training and education that they will encounter in their time here.”
Photo caption: Students receive their “golden ticket” – the certificate certifying they have been accepted into the ASPIRE Academy.
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 acting 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 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 seven outdoor football pitches, athletics tracks, 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 housed beneath the world’s largest purpose built sports dome, every aspect of the development of elite athletes is catered for. There is a place for those who dare to dream.
ASPIRE TODAY, INSPIRE TOMORROW
