QFA and Qatar Shell host vibrant Koora Time event

Doha: A record 8,000 visitors flocked to Katara today to celebrate National Sport Day and take part in fun-filled family activities organised by Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell as part of their award-winning Koora Time programme.

The Koora Time event, which took place from 8am to 6pm at Katara, was aimed at promoting a healthy lifestyle and diet among Qatar’s youth. And, as the massive number of attendees demonstrated, it was a resounding success.

The event opened with the Asian Federation Cup trophy on display, to the surprise of visitors who celebrated Qatar’s successful journey throughout the tournament to secure the title for the first time.

“This year’s record number of participants reflect our achievements, in partnership with Qatar Shell, in engaging the local community to promote a healthier future for our youth,” said Khalid Mubarak Al-Kawari, Director of Communication and Marketing, QFA.

The unique sporting event, which had attracted over 7,000 attendees last year, featured a variety of football and fitness activities for all age groups in a fun and non-competitive environment.

“The record turnout for the second consecutive year demonstrates that the Koora Timeinitiative is making a tangible contribution to advancing the social development pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030,” said Andrew Faulkner, Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell Companies.

Two football pitches, including one dedicated to children aged 12 and under, played host to several tournaments throughout the day. In total, each pitch featured 10 hours of action, in addition to six other football-related games

Parents also joined their children in fitness classes that ran throughout the day, promoting healthy lifestyles for the whole family.

Koora Time was developed by Qatar Shell in partnership with the Qatar Football Association, and the initiative has won eight CSR awards over the past five years. 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 percent 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.

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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.

© Press Release 2019