(MENAFN- The Peninsula) By Armstrong Vas | The Peninsula
Doha: Generation Amazing marked the four-year countdown to 2022 FIFA World Cup kickoff by hosting a programme with local schoolchildren and global stars at Aspire Zone here yesterday.
Around 20 kids from Middle East International School Qatar took part in the programme along with the legendary Serbian coach, Bora Milutinovic; former England goalkeeper and beIN Sports expert, Paul Robinson; and Acting Executive Director of Generation Amazing, Afraa Al Noaimi.
Yesterday marked a significant and symbolic date on the journey towards the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East with the tournament kicking off exactly on this date in four years time at Lusail Stadium.
The programme began with a short introduction of Generation Amazing and its partners, followed by football for development activity and ended with a 5-a-side game between Generation Amazing teams.
'The Generation Amazing is one key legacy programme through which Qatar is ensuring that this tournament (2022 World Cup) goes beyond the 28 days of football and leaves a significant human and social legacy for Qatar, and the Middle East and Asia, said Milutinovic, who has the distinction of coaching five different teams at FIFA World Cup finals.
'Generation Amazing uses the opportunity of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup and the power of football as a catalyst for social change to educate and empower the next generations, he added.
Currently present in seven countries, Qatar, Nepal, Pakistan, Jordan, Lebanon, Philippines and India, Generation Amazing has been reached 250,000 beneficiaries to date through Generation Amazing infrastructure developments (pitches) and football for development programmes.
The aim of Generation Amazing is to celebrate diversity, connect people and build a legacy ofhuman capacity before and after 2022 by building infrastructure, human potential and creating sustainable programmes which change communities for the better, in line with the country's vision to utilise the tournament to build a lasting human and social legacy.
At the 2018 World Cup in Russia, Generation Amazing selected eight worker ambassadors to attend the football showpiece event based on their excellent contributions to the programme in Qatar.
In addition, Generation Amazing took sixteen youth ambassadors from five countries - Qatar, India, Philippines, Nepal and Pakistan to attend matches of Russia 2018, as well as taking part in leadership workshops, football activities and cultural exchanges in Moscow. This programme follows on from similar visits to South Africa in 2010 and Brazil 2014 wherein 25 and 22 youth ambassadors watched the football matches.
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