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QF's Siraj launches its first illustrated children's book at the Doha International Book Fair in collaboration with publisher HBKU Press

QF's Siraj launches its first illustrated children's book at the Doha International Book Fair in collaboration with publisher HBKU Press

Siraj launches the book 'Yaseen's Kite' to raise awareness about the Palestinian cause through children's literature. Related Stories Story 3 min read
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The league and clinics, hosted by QF in collaboration with the NBA and Qatar Basketball Federation, bring together more than 1,000 participants from across the country

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A Qatar Olympics would be a legacy gamechanger: QF vice chairperson
A Qatar Olympics would be a legacy gamechanger: QF vice chairperson

Qatar Tribune

time11 hours ago

  • Qatar Tribune

A Qatar Olympics would be a legacy gamechanger: QF vice chairperson

LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND: Hosting an Olympic Games in Qatar, and bringing the global sporting showcase to the Middle East for the first time, would create a social legacy that extends beyond Qatar and across the region and the world, said Vice Chairperson of Qatar Foundation (QF) HE Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani. Speaking at the Olympism365 Summit: Sport for a Better World, Sheikha Hind, who is also a member of the International Olympic Committee's Olympic Education Commission, outlined how Qatar is strengthening its position as a global hub of sports following its staging of the FIFA World Cup in 2022, while cultivating an inclusive, accessible sporting culture across the nation, the region, and beyond. In a high-level session exploring the role of sports as an enabler of sustainable development, she spotlighted the Circle In project, launched by Qatar Foundation, Education Above All (EAA) Foundation, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to nurture more equitable, inclusive and educated communities across Asia and the Middle East and North Africa region, through sport. Part of the IOC's Olympism365 strategy to strengthen the role of sports and Olympism in achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in its initial phase Circle In will support sport-for-good projects in seven countries, with a focus on women and girls, people with disabilities, and people from marginalized backgrounds. Sheikha Hind told an audience including members of the Olympic movement and representatives of UN agencies and development organizations that, just as Circle In is harnessing the power of sports to unify, connect, and create opportunities, so Qatar wants to do the same as an Olympic host. "It's no secret that Qatar is going for the 2036 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and for me, as a person who is leading a foundation focused on education, and who has seen the legacy we were able to create in one sport through hosting the FIFA World Cup, it gives me chills to think about what can be created through all the different Olympic sports," she said during the panel session, on which she was joined by Dr Najat Maalla, United Nations Special Representative on Ending Violence Against Children, with the session being moderated by Benny Bonsu, Director of Daily Content at the Olympic Channel. "It's not only about creating a legacy for Qatar. Everything we do at Qatar Foundation is for the country, the region, and for a potential global effect. When you think about our region, and its two billion people, there is a real opportunity to think about the socioeconomic possibility through the lens of sports, and to ensure sports is seen in a different way, a more sustainable and comprehensive way." Circle In, the name of which stems from sports teams coming together a huddle to symbolize unity and purpose, will provide accessible, safe, gender-inclusive, and sustainable community sports programs, and capacity-building pathways, in the countries where it initially operates. Its initial goal is to benefit up to 50,000 children and youth in these countries, and train up to 5,000 coaches, teachers, and instructors to promote equality, inclusion, and education through sports. In a subsequent phase, Circle In will provide more countries in the region with digital resources that support them in developing localized, sports-based solutions to challenges they face. "I'm very proud of this partnership, because we're taking our expertise and learning in socioeconomic development through sports to different countries and finding local partners who can support our endeavors there," she told the summit. "Even the name 'Circle In' reflects that this is a community project. It's not simply extracting something and placing it in a country. It's about co-creating something together." Sheikha Hind also explained how Qatar's sporting ethos, from the world-class events it hosts to the programs and pathways it provides for everyone to embrace, enjoy, and excel in sports, is built on gaining knowledge and ideas from an international outlook, and adapting this to fit the culture and values of the nation and region. Sheikha Hind added: "When my country hosted the FIFA World Cup in 2022, the safest, most family-friendly, and most inclusive World Cup in history, I was very proud that we stuck to our values," she said. "This is important for any citizen when a sporting tournament comes to their country, that it is reflective of the values of that country. "It's incredible to see the empowerment sports can bring. When I look at students from our school for children with autism participating in horse-riding classes, that is inclusive sports, and we do this across the board at Qatar Foundation. We ensure everyone has a space. "Sports is part of the Qatari DNA, and so is social development. When we look at what Qatar has done, not just across the region but globally, it only made sense to naturally evolve and transition these two elements together, and so we have an opportunity to create even wider impact through sports in the context of socioeconomic development." For his part, Acting CEO of Education Above All Foundation, Mohamed Al Kubaisi said: "Circle In is more than a sport-for-good initiative, it is a powerful extension of Education Above All Foundation's mission to ensure that every young person, especially those from marginalized backgrounds, has access to inclusive education and opportunities for personal growth. "Through our collaboration with Qatar Foundation and the IOC, we are integrating sports with education to build resilient, empowered communities where youth can learn, thrive, and lead change, both inside the classroom and on the playing field." Through the Circle In collaboration, EAA Foundation is bringing its global expertise in education access, inclusion, and youth empowerment to ensure that the initiative not only promotes sport for development, but also drives learning outcomes and social inclusion for vulnerable groups. EAA Foundation's role includes integrating education and life skills into the design of sport-for-development programs, leveraging its partnerships in more than 60 countries to identify communities where Circle In can have maximum impact. With a focus on girls, children with disabilities, and marginalized youth, EAA Foundation will ensure that the initiative delivers holistic, sustainable, and measurable outcomes.

LA Olympics may be ‘good launching pad' for NBA league in Europe
LA Olympics may be ‘good launching pad' for NBA league in Europe

Al Jazeera

time18 hours ago

  • Al Jazeera

LA Olympics may be ‘good launching pad' for NBA league in Europe

The NBA's talks with the International Basketball Federation (FIBA) and other entities about the process of adding a new league in Europe are continuing, the game's commissioner in the United States said. Adam Silver noted it may take at least a couple more years to turn the ideas into reality, pinpointing the Los Angeles Olympics in 2028 as a potential 'launching pad' for another NBA competition. He was speaking on Friday – an off day for the NBA Finals – at a league event to unveil a refurbished Boys & Girls Club in Oklahoma City and said it's difficult to put a specific timeline on the Europe plans. 'I will say it's measured in years, not months,' Silver said. 'So, we're at least a couple years away from launching. 'It would be an enormous undertaking. And while we want to move forward at a deliberate pace, we also want to make sure that we're consulting with all the appropriate stakeholders, meaning the existing league, its teams, European players, media companies, marketing partners. There's a lot of work to be done.' Silver and FIBA Secretary-General Andreas Zagklis announced in March that the league and the game's governing body are finally taking long-awaited steps to form a new league, with an initial target of 16 teams. The idea had been talked about for years, even decades on some levels. Silver revealed that since the NBA and FIBA went public with their idea to move forward, talks have gotten more constructive. Silver said the NBA has been talking directly with the EuroLeague and with some member clubs about a partnership. It's his preference that the NBA work with the existing league on some level, though it's still too early to say exactly what that means. 'Either way, we continue to feel there are an enormous number of underserved basketball fans in Europe and that there's a strong opportunity to have another league styled after the NBA,' Silver said. About one in every six current NBA players hails from Europe, including Denver's Nikola Jokic (Serbia) and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo (Greece) – who have combined for five of the last seven MVP awards – along with the Los Angeles Lakers' Luka Doncic (Slovenia) and San Antonio's Victor Wembanyama (France). The NBA's board of governors will talk more about next steps with the European plans in July, at their scheduled meeting in Las Vegas, Silver said. It's possible that the European venture could be unveiled in some way – or possibly start – around the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, given how much attention will be on international basketball at that time. 'That might be a good launching pad for an announcement around a new competition,' Silver said. Some of the cities that are expected to have interest in being part of the new venture include London, Manchester, Rome and Munich. There will be others, of course. 'We haven't had direct conversations yet,' Silver said. 'But there have been several organisations that have come forward and said they would be interested and potential owners in operating in those major markets in Europe.'

Thousands of community members gather at Education City Stadium for Eid Al Adha prayer
Thousands of community members gather at Education City Stadium for Eid Al Adha prayer

ILoveQatar.net

time2 days ago

  • ILoveQatar.net

Thousands of community members gather at Education City Stadium for Eid Al Adha prayer

Worshippers from across Qatar gathered in thousands at the Education City Stadium for the Eid Al Adha prayer. The iconic arena's size and safety has led to it becoming a familiar setting for Eid prayers in recent years, following its role as a FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ venue. The Eid Al Adha gathering was organised by Qatar Foundation's (QF) Minaretein Center (Education City Mosque), in collaboration with the Ministry of Endowments (Awqaf) and Islamic Affairs. Following the prayer, families also enjoyed an array of cultural and entertainment activities, including henna artists, face painting, gifts of 'Eid Mubarak' balloons, and the chance to meet cartoon characters. Source & Image credit: Qatar Foundation

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