Praising Qatari sport’s major progress .. Sergey “Bubka”:
“Aspire Academy” a world-class source of pride and a factory for producing talent
Retired world athletics legend Sergey Bubka, President of the Ukrainian Olympic Committee and vice-president of the International Athletics Federation, praised the major progress and qualitative leap achieved by Qatari sport in general and athletics in particular, noting that Qatar had truly become a leader in hosting major world championships and other events on its soil, stressing that it was heading in the right direction to achieve its goals thanks to the strong support it receives from officials in the country. He described Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence, which he visited the previous day accompanied by his friend and colleague Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, vice-president of the International Athletics Federation, as a genuine “world-class source of pride” for the fresh thinking and clear sporting vision it embodies in honing talented athletes and creating the champions of the future, and hoped his own country, Ukraine, could benefit from Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence’s capabilities in developing and honing champions. This came on the sidelines of legend Bubka’s visit to Aspire and his attendance at part of the Qatar Athletics Cup competition for the Baraem and junior categories held indoors, where he was received by board members represented by Mohammed Jassim Al Kuwari, secretary general, Mohammed Suleiman, assistant secretary general, Abdulhakim Al Omari, Abdulrahman Al Nubi, Mai Al Mohannadi and Yacoub Abdullah, and legend Bubka received a warm and friendly welcome from the Qatari athletics family.
Admiration for the sporting complex
Legend Sergey Bubka expressed his great admiration for Aspire Academy, the sporting and academic complex, and listened to a full briefing from its leadership about its facilities, educational programmes and the sporting opportunities it provides for talented athletes across many sports. Bubka also heard a brief overview of Aspire’s other facilities, including parks and green spaces, hotels, shopping areas and more.
The legend’s advice for future champions
After touring Aspire’s sports facilities, legend Sergey Bubka, accompanied by Major General Al Hamad, made a point of following part of the Qatar Athletics Cup competition held indoors, which brought together champions from the nine Qatari clubs under the umbrella of the Qatar Athletics Federation. The competition was marked by challenge and excitement among the talented players, who showed off their skills before legend Bubka with great seriousness and enthusiasm. Sergey, for his part, made sure to offer advice and technical guidance to the pole vaulters — his own speciality, in which he excelled technically, setting a series of records that remain unmatched or unbroken to this day. Legend Bubka urged the champions to make every effort in pursuit of their sporting and academic dreams and goals, and considered them fortunate to belong to a country that leads the way in sport, nurtures its talented champions and provides them with every advantage and support to rise to the top.
We greatly value the legend’s visit
Major General Dahlan Al Hamad, for his part, expressed his pride and honour at legend Bubka’s welcome visit to Qatar and the strong personal ties that have linked them over the years, describing him as one of the world’s Olympic leaders held in respect and esteem. He praised the good sporting guidance and advice Bubka had given the previous day to promising pole vaulters, urging them to persevere and listen to their coach’s instructions in pursuit of the top. He expressed hope that sporting cooperation between Qatar and Ukraine would be strengthened in the coming period to benefit from both sides’ sporting expertise, and repeated his thanks and appreciation to legend Bubka for his visit to Doha.
