The inaugural Generation Amazing Festival kicked off yesterday at Qatar Foundation’s Oxygen Park. The event aims to inspire a generation of young leaders to make a difference in their communities.
Attendees from Qatar, the Middle East, Asia, Europe, and the Americas are being encouraged to harness the power of football to create social change.
This year’s festival will celebrate social inclusion and promote 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 festival is the first of a series leading up to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
More than 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 include football for development workshops, a ‘football3’ tournament, activities led by youth ambassadors, a FIFA Legends day, cultural performances and celebrity footballer events.
Qatar Foundation has been announced as the strategic partner for the festival.
The FIFA Foundation is also partnering with Generation Amazing for the event, which is organised in collaboration with the street football world.
Qatar Airways are the official airline partners, while beIN SPORTS are the official media partner.
The festival is supported by Qatar Football Association, Qatar Museums, Ashghal, QLM Life and Medical Insurance Company, and the University Campus of Football Business.
Generation Amazing partner clubs AS Roma, KAS Eupen, Leeds United, and Sheffield FC have all sent youth delegations, as have Brazilian champions Flamengo, who are taking part in the FIFA Club World Cup, and the English Football Association.
Generation Amazing’s Marketing and Communications Director, Moza al-Mohannadi, said: “We are proud and excited to be launching the very first edition of the Generation Amazing Festival and welcoming youth from Qatar and across the world to come together to celebrate the power of football.
“Special thanks to our strategic partners Qatar Foundation, FIFA Foundation and street football world for their support.”
Speaking about what youth participants can expect to gain from the festival, Generation Amazing’s Programme Director, Nasser al-Khori, said: “Football for good workshops will teach participants to build and design social development programs around football infrastructure, event organisation, and community outreach initiatives.
The festival’s educational courses will take participants through the fundamental principles of active citizenship through football and project management.”
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 have acquired throughout the festival.
Youth will also be able to take part in a training session delivered by Dutch football legend Johan Neeskens, while the PSG Academy in Doha will lead a series of sessions for attendees.
Towards the end of their journey, participants will get a chance to attend the FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2019 and watch Liverpool’s semi-final game against Monterrey, while 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 will feature unique cultural, networking and celebratory activities, including the closing awards ceremony and a visit to the iconic Qatar National Museum.
Generation Amazing, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s human and social legacy programme, was initiated during Qatar’s successful bid for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in 2010.
It uses the power of sport 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, with the aim of reaching 1mn young people by 2022.