Festival celebrates the power of football to unite and change communities for the better
The Generation Amazing Festival 2019 kicks off this week at Oxygen Park to inspire a generation of young leaders make a difference in their communities from Qatar, the Middle East, Asia, Europe and the Americas, using the inspiring power of football to create social change.
This year’s festival will be the first of its kind in Qatar, celebrating social inclusion and promoting gender equality as part of Generation Amazing’s mandate of using football to support the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and the Qatar National Vision 2030.
Running alongside the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019™, the occasion will be the kick-off event within a series of festivals leading up to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Over 170 youth participants from 12 countries, including Qatar, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, Pakistan, India, the Philippines, Nepal, Italy, Belgium, the UK and Brazil will be participating.
Key highlights of the festival include football for development workshops, a football3 tournament, activities led by youth ambassadors, a FIFA Legends day, cultural performances and celebrity footballer events for all youth in attendance.
Looking ahead to Generation Amazing Festival 2019, Marketing and Communications Director Moza Al Mohannadi said they are proud and excited to be launching the very first edition of Generation Amazing Festival and welcoming youth from Qatar and across the world to come together to celebrate football. Their strategic partners include Qatar Foundation, FIFA Foundation and streetfootballworld.
Programme Director Nasser Al Khori said the festival’s educational courses will take participants through the fundamental principles of an active citizenship through football and project management.
Football for Good workshops will teach participants to build and design social development programmes around football infrastructure, event organisation and community outreach initiatives.’
Al Khori also said that the festival will be an exciting and engaging experience for some of their most promising young programme participants, as well as those interested in inspiring positive social change through the power of football.
A football for good tournament will be the culmination of the festival’s educational and entertainment experience, and offers participants the chance to apply all the technical and personal skills they acquired throughout the festival and will follow several practice matches and training sessions held throughout the festival.
Youth will also be able to take part in a training session to be delivered by Dutch football legend Johan Neeskens, while PSG Academy in Doha will lead a series of training sessions for youth ambassadors and attendees. During their time in Doha, young participants will also get the chance to meet and engage with former Liverpool FC and England striker Michael Owen.
Towards the end of their journey in Doha, participants will get a chance to attend the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019™ and watch Liverpool FC’s semi-final game, whilst a FIFA Legends day will feature talks, training sessions and a match between star players and the young leaders.
From live performances to face painting, additional special events and activities feature unique cultural, networking and celebratory activities, including the Closing Awards and a visit to the iconic Qatar National Museum.
Generation Amazing, the human and social legacy programme under the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy was initiated after Qatar’s successful bid for the FIFA World Cup 2022™ in 2010. It uses the power of sports to positively impact lives and create sustainable social development in communities. More than 500,000 beneficiaries have been reached to date, through Generation Amazing in the Middle East and Asia. The programme aims to reach one million young people by 2022.
Learn more about Generation Amazing through this link.
