During the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™️ quarter-finals week, a special Generation Amazing delegation of ten young female leaders from Qatar concluded their successful journey and participation, alongside peers from across the globe in Festival23 – a Football for Good festival held in Sydney, Australia.
The delegation comprised Generation Amazing Foundation (GA) Youth Ambassadors, sponsored in partnership with Qatar Foundation, Qatar Football Association and the Delegation of the European Union (EU) to the State of Qatar.
GA is the social legacy initiative of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™️ and a football for development organisation that delivers programmes aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals. It utilises the power of football to promote sustainability, inclusion and gender equality, and impart key life skills such as communication, leadership, teamwork, and compassion.
Festival23
Festival23 is a ground-breaking Football for Good event focused on football as a force for positive change.
It was hosted by Common Goal, Football United and Creating Chances, and gathered over 70 local and global young women delegates from over 40 countries for eight days of capacity-building workshops, immersive cross-cultural activities, world-class forums, and a fair play football tournament.
The youth delegates also enjoyed the opportunity to attend some of the Women’s World Cup matches and partake in a Community Gala.
Reflecting on her Festival23 experience, GA Youth Advocate Nour Loubani said she is honoured to have had the opportunity to learn from other delegates at Festival23.
They were curious to hear my perspective of the impact the World Cup had on Qatar, and I was able to share various positive outcomes of the tournament, such as empowering women in sports and dedicating a World Cup stadium to be a venue that hosts various activities for women of the community.
Driving sustainable impact in communities
As one of the esteemed Global Icons of Festival23, alongside prestigious partners like UEFA Foundation, Adidas, FIFA, Rexona, and the Australian government, Generation Amazing Foundation is committed to driving sustainable impact in communities through sport while also empowering the next generation of female leaders.
In line with GA’s values and mission and the inclusive spirit of women’s football, Festival23 programmes centred around advancing the UN Global Goals, creating awareness and empowering young women delegates with skills to tackle critical issues such as gender equality, climate action, youth employability, diversity, and inclusion.
By leveraging the excitement and energy of the FIFA Women’s World Cup, Festival23 inspired the youth and promoted the transformative role of women in sports development.
GA Executive Director Nasser Al-Khori said they are proud to join forces with Festival23, and all the esteemed partner organisations in Australia to contribute to the development of young female leaders from around the world and highlight the importance of gender equality and inclusion in sports against the fitting backdrop of the FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023.
Passing the Baton
Festival23 also hosted a special all-women’s expert panel discussion, Passing the Baton – Women’s Sports Development as a Legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar. Co-organised by Generation Amazing and Qatar Foundation, in collaboration with the delegation of the European Union to the State of Qatar, the panel convened influential policymakers, sports leaders and distinguished figures from the Arab region to spotlight the transformative role of women in sports development as a result of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The discussions emphasised the focus that Qatar and the region are putting on developing women’s sports, the creation of impactful lasting legacies after major global sporting events, empowering young women, promoting gender equality in sports, and fostering the growth of women’s sports globally.
According to Football United Founder and Director Anne Bunde-Birouste, it was clear that promoting opportunities for women is a necessity.
She said it was inspiring to see the young delegates bring their best and share stories, energy and insight from their vast and diverse experiences working in grassroots, community and advocacy in their own communities.
Check out Marhaba’s FREE e-Guides for everything you need to know about Qatar.
