QSRF President raises curtain on GSF Youth Camp
22 February 2010
DOHA - The Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation President Mr. Khalifa Mohammad Al Suwaidi raised curtains on the fifth Global Sport Fund International Youth Camp Monday morning at the Al Rayyan sports club.
One hundred and sixty youth (boys and girls between the ages of 11 and 13 + years) and adult coaches are participating in the week-long camp.
Delivering a message on behalf of the organizing committee of the Qatar Olympic Committee, Al Suwaidi said, "On behalf of HE Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, Secretary-General of QOC, wishing you a good stay in Doha and a successful participation in the youth camp."
An initiative by HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani, the QOC and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime joined forces to create GSF to promote sport for youth around the world.
"We in Doha feel honoured by hosting this big youth gathering organized by the GSF and QOC to enable its objective of protecting youth and increasing their awareness about the dangers of drugs and delinquency," Al Suwaidi added.
Also present was, the world champion, current and six-time FIA Middle East Rally Champion, Nasser Saleh Al Attiyah, who promised to work closely with the GSF as an Ambassador in a bid to reinforce its objective.
Soon after the parade of the delegations, Al Suwaidi, Al Attiyah and GSF Project coordinator, Carl Marsh gave their welcome speeches.
Later, the oaths were taken by a Qatari youth representing the participants and a Czech Republic coach representing coaches.
Football and basketball clinics were held shortly after the opening ceremony, starting at 1015hrs at the camp venue.
A total of 16 countries including Algeria, Bahrain, Brazil, Brunei Darussalam, the Czech Republic, Fiji, Indonesia, Iraq, Nicaragua, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Yemen are participating in the camp.
They will spend a week of fun in learning, multinational team competitions in football and basketball, sightseeing, cultural exchanges and making new friendships. At the end of the programme, successful participants will receive awards as GSF Youth and Coach Ambassadors. Graduates will be able to go back to their communities to:
Introduce their peers to the techniques of the GSF model that uses sport to teach social skills to youth as a way to develop individual potential.
Demonstrate through play how a discipline (e.g., football or basketball) can be used to develop and practice positive social behaviours that are useful on and off the field.
Use the GSF Fair Play Score Card to manage the behaviours of players in friendly competitions in a team-based sport.
Explain how the principles of Fair Play, Playing by the Rules, Teamwork, Youth Leadership, Familiarization with Drug Prevention, Anti-Doping and Delinquency Avoidance Measures can be easily learned.
Help organise after-school sport activities, using available school gyms and play fields to extend fun in learning within their communities.
