Student-athletes of Aspire Academy celebrate during their graduation ceremony in Doha, yesterday.
DOHA: Aspire Academy, yesterday celebrated the graduation of its biggest batch of student-athletes to date, including 42 graduates who specialised in athletics, gymnastics, football refereeing, fencing, squash, shooting and table tennis.
The graduation crowns Aspire Academy’s efforts over the past 11 years and commitment to support Qatar’s significant developments in the sports field.
This year’s graduates now join a long list of local sports stars, some of whom have achieved international-acclaim in their respective fields, including Mutaz Barshim, Akram Afif, Ashraf El Seify, Fahad Al Abdulrahman, Abubaker Haydar, Ahmed Bedir Magour, Abdullah Al Tamimi, Almoez Ali and many others.
This year’s class brings the total number of Aspire Academy graduates to 325 full of talent and promise.
Some of them have already proven themselves in various local and international sports competitions as they brought back gold, silver, and bronze medals to Qatar and were crowned championships at various tournaments.
The graduation ceremony took place in the Aspire Dome and was attended by a number of senior officials, including the Guest of Honour, the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Secretary General, Jassim Rashid Al Buenain.
Other attendees included Mohammed Khalifa Al Suwaidi, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aspire Zone Foundation, Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy, Ali Salem Afifa, Deputy Director General at Aspire Academy, Badr Al Hay, Director of Education and Student Affairs of Aspire Academy, and Jassim Al Jaber, School Principal at Aspire Academy.
They were joined by members of Aspire Zone Foundation, Aspire Academy and Aspetar and local sports federations along with the proud parents of student athletes.
Speaking in his welcoming remarks, Bravo, said: “I’d like to congratulate all the student-athletes and their families who are with us today and I wish them a successful night in the future.
“I’d also like to congratulate four of our graduates who weren’t able to attend tonight’s Graduation because they are preparing for the IAAF World U20 Championships Tampere 2018; these are our athletes Omar Ibrahim, Khalil Badawai, Moaz Ibrahim and Saoud Al Humaidi.”
Addressing the graduates, he added: “I’m here to tell you to continue what you’re doing, and to work hard, be competitive, a leader and make everyone proud. You’re going to face a very difficult chapter in your life. The expectations are tremendous and that puts a lot of pressure on people.”
“You come from a country with a small population, and that makes your ability to compete on the world stage all the more challenging and impressive. The pressure we put on ourselves can be good but overwhelming.
“It’s truly magnificent when Qatar makes it to the semi-finals in an Asian championship, or when one of you wins Gold or finishes in the top 8 at the Olympics, these are things that you and your colleagues are achieving and that’s tremendously impressive,” he added.
