Top American women’s football team, Washington Spirit, passed on tips and inspiration to students and young female football stars during a recent visit to Qatar Foundation, ahead of the launch of the 2021 US-Qatar Year of Culture.
Members of ‘Washington Spirit’ were welcomed to Doha by a delegation from the US Embassy of the State of Qatar, Qatar Museums and the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the US, for a week of cultural experiences and sporting activities that reflect the continuing close ties and history of partnership between the two countries.
The 2021 US-Qatar Year of Culture is the latest edition of the Qatar Museums cultural exchange programme that promotes mutual understanding between Qatar and other countries, builds and strengthens friendship bonds, and invites people to explore cultural similarities and differences.
Launched in 2013 and supported by Qatar Foundation, the programme showcases Qatar’s cultural heritage to a global audience, and brings the culture of each year’s country partner to Qatar.
Qatar Foundation played host to Washington Spirit as the American players got their first taste of Doha, with their time at Education City. They met and coached students from Qatar Academy Doha and the girls’ football team at Oxygen Park, which also includes players in mainstream and ability-friendly programmes.
Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe said it’s important to build bridges between countries – as we all have so much to learn from each other.
I think you see how Qatar Foundation really values this, with its different universities and everything being so close together. It’s created an environment where building these bridges can take place.
Midfielder Dorian Bailey meanwhile adviced the students and the young female footballers she met at Qatar Foundation to ‘shoot for the stars and do what you love’.
Programmes like the Years of Culture are important in the way they are able to just blend different cultures and allow people to learn from each other, and that blending of cultures is reiterated at Qatar Foundation.
Accompanied by embassy officials and by the President of Community Development at Qatar Foundation Machaille Hassan Al Naimi, the players with team owner Steve Baldwin, were given an overview of Education City from the viewing balcony of the 2015 building (QF Headquarters).
The team also visited the Qatar National Library and the equine and equestrian centre at Al Shaqab in Education City.
Director of Community Engagement at Qatar Foundation Amy Johnson said that meeting the Washington Spirit players and learning how commitment and positivity can lead to success and fulfilment in life, has been a real thrill for young members of the QF community.
She hoped that their time at Education City provided them with an enriching cultural experience, and a deeper understanding of the essence of Qatar.
For updates and more information, visit qf.org.qa.
