(MENAFN- The Peninsula) Qatar € which has emerged as one of the leading sports hub of global sports € is looking forward to developing long-term initiatives to promote sport as vehicle for creating a more inclusive society, commented H E Sheikh Faisal bin Mubarak Al Thani Executive Director of Doha Goals Forum.
Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Doha Goals Forum H E Sheikh Faisal said: "As a nation, Qatar is a strong advocate for the power of sport: it is one of the pillars of our country's vision. Through the leadership of H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, the country is committed to developing sport for the nation, for our citizens, and most importantly for our next generation."
The three-day forum, a leading platform for social and economic progress through sport, opened on Sunday in Los Angeles, California - the first time the event is being held outside Qatar.
"Sport is an integral part of our education system, and we treat it with equal importance whether our elite young athletes are training at Aspire Academy, or through community projects encouraging everyone to become more active," he added.
"Based on the conviction (sport is a powerful tool of change), we decided to create a platform, the Doha Goals Forum. Goals stands for A Gathering Of All Leaders In Sport. In fact, it is a gathering of all people, who share our vision that sport is a unique tool for social progress and economic development, and for building a more inclusive society," added Sheikh Faisal.
For the last three editions world-class athletes, policy makers, global chief executive officers and leading non-governmental organisations met in Doha to create a roadmap for social improvement through sports and launch cross-border initiatives.
H E Sheikh Faisal said sports has a strong role to play in society.
"Sport not only brings us together, but history has showed it has an unique role in fostering peace, cross cultural understanding and changing the 'World for the Better,'" he added, while addressing a gathering which included students from around 23 top sport management programmes in the US and Canada.
"From the day we launched, Doha Goals has been vocal in its commitment to facilitating real change. We have announced a series of initiatives € many that have come from ideas provided by the Doha Goals community € over the last 3 years," he said. "These initiatives are proof of our commitment to be a catalyst for new ideas, as they are all built around partnerships (new and old) with the private sector, inter-government bodies, NGOs and individuals, " he added.
Change, he said, cannot occur by itself, and the best chance any new initiative has to succeed € and to last € is for it to be built on solid connections and relationships.
He also emphasised on the need to use sports as a catalyst for change in society.
Explaining the decision to tie up with Special Olympics Games, which began here on Saturday night H E Sheikh Faisal said: "In 2015, Doha Goals has to the "home of sport and entertainment," due to our friendship and shared vision with the Special Olympics, the world's most wide-reaching organisation focusing on sport for development. On behalf of Doha Goals Forum, we extend our personal congratulations to Mr Tim Shriver and his family for their historic leadership in developing the Special Olympics into a Global Social Movement.
"Our partnership will go beyond this week's presence during the World Games, and we look forward to developing long-term initiatives to promote sport as vehicle for creating a more inclusive society," he said, while welcoming delegates to two exciting days of collaboration and engaging discussion in Los Angeles. "We have tried to bring a little piece of Qatar with us to Los Angeles and I hope that the Doha Goals Forum 2015 will give you the will to support our initiatives and join us in our call to action.
"This year's Forum is very much about what we, as individuals, and as local, national and global citizens, can do to promote the many facets of sport. Over the past three years, thousands of participants have come together under the Doha Goals umbrella. They have held up their hands to be counted as we build a platform for change.
"Let's use the platform we have here in LA, during the Special Olympics World Games, and the attention that sporting events attract to address some of the greatest divisions and problems that exist in our society," he added.
Some of the top athletes who are attending the meet in LA are 22-time medalist and world champion Michael Phelps, three-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Nadia Comenici, nine-time Olympic gold medallist Carl Lewis, two-time Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Bart Conner, nine-time Olympic champion swimmer Mark Spitz and former Brazil captain Cafu.
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