Doha: Former World Heavyweight Champion and US Olympic gold medallist George Foreman, Jamaican triple Olympic gold medallist Veronica Campbell-Brown, US Olympic champion and track and field director Jackie Joyner-Kersee, former UK Olympic 100m gold medallist Linford Christie, 2013 Wimbledon champion Marion Bartoli and retired German international footballer Christoph Metzelder have all been confirmed to appear at this year’s Doha GOALS Forum that will be held at Aspire Academy here from November 3-5 — under the patronage of the Emir of Qatar, H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani.
These great champions will join former Olympic gold medallist and Chairman of the 2012 London Olympic Games Organising Committee, Lord Sebastian Coe, three-time Paralympic gold medallist Hou Bin and former tennis champion and coach of world number one player Novak Djokovic, Boris Becker, at the Doha GOALS Forum.
The Executive Director of Doha GOALS Forum, H E Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Al Thani, said: “Each year at the Doha GOALS Forum we aim to invite a combination of global leaders, sporting heroes, business leaders and students to give us a diverse group of speakers. That allows for a wide range of discussions and creates hundreds of ideas for positive change. It is for these reasons that we are thrilled to be welcoming some of the greatest names in sport to Doha GOALS 2014.”
Triple Paralympic champion Hou Bin from China said: “I know first-hand how sport can help improve your life. When you are on the field, everyone is equal…it doesn’t matter what race you are, the language you speak; you strive towards a similar goal as your competitor and you carry the same concerns. It is a reminder of our similarities, struggles
and strength when we work together. Sport improved my life and I want to help it improve the lives of others. I am excited
to attend, and continue the fantastic work of Doha GOALS towards making a real global difference.”
Participants at Doha GOALS 2014 will address four touchstones: engaging youth, innovation and creativity, empowering people, and the role of sport in the Middle East and North Africa. Packed with a fast-paced agenda to inspire creative and dynamic dialogue, these touch points are also reflected in the selection of speakers.
THE PENINSULA
