QFA and Qatar Shell to host fun-filled sports spectacular at Katara

Doha, Qatar: Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell offer an array of fun-filled family activities as part of the award-winning Koora Time programme at Katara during National Sports Day. Last year, over 7,000 people flocked to the sporting spectacular and, this time round, organisers are confident of surpassing this record with the support of the local community.

“We are immensely proud of our Koora Time initiative which, over the past seven years, has transformed the fitness and nutrition habits of an entire generation of children in Qatar,” said Khalid Mubarak Al-Kawari, Director of Communication and Marketing, QFA. “For National Sport Day 2019, the Koora Time ‘event’ will take community participation to a whole new level, and I am really looking forward to welcoming Qatar’s residents to this outstanding sporting spectacle.”

“Koora Time promotes an active lifestyle among Qatar’s young people through participation in football and nutritional education, creating a healthier population for the future,” said Andrew Faulkner, Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell Companies. “It’s great to showcase the programme that contributes to Qatar National Vision 2030 to a larger audience during the National Sport Day activities at Katara.”

The Koora Time ‘event’ will be open from 8am to 6pm on Tuesday 12^th February at Katara, and participants are encouraged to get there early to make the most of a day devoted to the celebration of sport.

A variety of football and fitness activities for all age groups will play out in a fun and non-competitive environment. Two football pitches, including one dedicated to children aged 12 and under, will feature several tournaments, in addition to six other football-related games. These include Robo Goalkeeper, which requires participants to try and score against a robotic goalkeeper defending the goal in a seesaw motion. Other activities include Chip Shot, where up to four participants divided into two teams must chip a ball into one of several football-sized holes.

Families will also have the opportunity to participate in fitness classes that will run throughout the day, promoting a healthy lifestyle for the whole family.

Children will take souvenirs back home in the form of photos as part of the Dive and Save activity, where participants are photographed as a keeper making an amazing last-ditch save.

Koora Time was developed by Qatar Shell in partnership with the Qatar Football Association, and the initiative has won eight CSR awards since 2014. It is designed to improve the health and wellbeing of young people in Qatar through football, and contributes to the Social Development pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Koora Time is based on FC Barcelona Foundation’s FutbolNet methodology and provides children with an extra 72 hours of extra-curricular physical education per year. Since its launch in March 2013, the programme has benefitted over 20,000 children across Qatar, and last year’s programme saw a reduction in Body Mass Index (BMI) of 93% of participants.

To find out more about Koora Time, or to register your child for the award-winning and impactful programme, please visit www.kooratime.qa.

About Qatar Football Association

The Qatar Football Association was established in the 1960’s; it is a pioneer among Qatari sports associations. QFA plays a pivotal role in laying the foundation for football in the state and is still the first to help advance the game and improve its level in Qatar, thus making the state a crucial player on the regional and international football scene.

Social responsibility is one of the key priorities of the Qatar Football Association (QFA). The purpose of engaging the society through various football-related programs has been well received by the public in recent years.

The QFA aims to strengthen the role of engaging the society through sports activities under the 2021 vision of the football ruling body.

The Qatar Football Association works on all levels of the football system to identify and develop young Qatari talents.

• QFA bonds with the local society to promote the game and expand its fan-base in a systematic and methodical approach.
• QFA aims to reinforce football professionalism by improving the existing infrastructure of the game.
• The ruling authority is constantly striving to develop and harness young talent that could be the base for youth and senior outfits competing regionally, continentally and internationally.

About Koora Time:

A ten-year sustainable initiative between Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell, Koora Time is designed to improve the health and wellbeing of Qatar’s youth through football.

This initiative aims to facilitate access to more football in a non-competitive environment, supporting an active and healthy lifestyle amongst the young people in Qatar. As part of the ten-year campaign, QFA and Qatar Shell will jointly organise and launch a series of youth engagement programmes using football as the platform.

Koora Time supports the Social and Human Development pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy (NDS) through engaging the young people in Qatar at every stage of their lives with programmes tailored to them.

In recognition of its positive impact on the health of youth, Koora Time has been the recipient of numerous awards including the 2014 & 2016 ‘Sports Industry Award’ for Best CSR Initiative, the 2015 ‘CSR Award Qatar’ for Best CSR Impact Initiative, the 2014 ‘Dar Al Sharq Corporate Social Responsibility Award’ for the Best Sports Initiative, the 2014, 2016 & 2017 ‘AFC Dream of Asia Award’ in the area of social responsibility, and the 2017 ‘QFA Awards’ for Best CSR Programme.