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FIFA (www.FIFA.com) Foundation signed MoUs with Qatar Foundation and Generation Amazing to deliver a range of football initiatives to empower youth and the community of Qatar that go beyond the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.
In addition to the MoU signings, FIFA Foundation, QF and GA also hosted a launch event at the Generation Amazing Community Club – a short distance from Lusail Stadium, the venue at which the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 final will take place on 18 December 2022. Joining more than 80 schoolchildren from across Qatar to participate in the football and education activities were three FIFA World Cup™ stars – FIFA Foundation CEO Youri Djorkaeff, as well two FIFA Legends; Australia’s Tim Cahill and Netherlands’ Nigel de Jong.
Transcripts
Youri Djorkaeff
00.03
Football for Schools is our biggest project for the FIFA Foundation. To explain it [in a few] words, there are two very important words in our programme: school, football, football, school. We’re combining two very important things for society: education and sport. Through sport, you gain some confidence, some trust, some united [unity], [you experience] some defeat sometimes, [you experience] victory. We’re strong in society, and education, of course; you can apply all that you learn in training on the field to real life. That’s why we’re so proud to be in Qatar today, a country which we know is opening up to football through the FIFA World Cup, to a different level.
01:19
We launched something very interesting because, in the modern world, everyone uses their phone. Everybody is using apps on a daily basis. What we’ve done is build an app where you can access all the sessions, the football sessions, possible. We’ve built more than 300 sessions. But it’s not just for us to take it from FIFA and to put it in an app with all the explanations. No. We did some videos where, tomorrow, teachers who’ve never played football can teach the basics of football. This is new on our app, it’s very connecting [interactive] with people who don’t really connect with football.
Tim Cahill
02:01
I think it’s amazing. FIFA Football for Schools, firstly, I was there in Lebanon when we launched the first ever programme, which was incredible because it really does make an impact on the country and the local community. Now, with the Qatar Foundation, Generation Amazing and all the work we’ve been doing for the last two years domestically, it’s been a privilege because it’s about keeping kids active: boys and girls, grassroots programmes, education. This is another conduit towards that platform. To have everyone here, Youri Djorkaeff, and everyone involved, especially at a special time with the [FIFA] World Cup draw coming up, it’s exciting, and it’s in Qatar. The biggest show on earth is going to be here, and everyone’s trying their hardest to make it an unbelievable experience for the World Cup, but also for countries all around the world.
02:55
I think the greatest thing with FIFA as well, is that they have the app to support it, not only for the players but also for the coaches. So, when we go around the world and we get to implement the apps and platforms, it educates the teachers, which educates the students, and we just have fun and that’s what it’s all about. Like I said, it’s an absolute pleasure to be down here at one of the training centres for the 2022 World Cup in Lusail, and the kids even get a little flavour of what a World Cup’s going to feel like.
Nigel de Jong
03:25
They look up to former football players, and I think that’s very important, but they can also see that you’re just a normal person, just as humble as they are. We all started from humble beginnings, we all started how they did, so that’s also something they look up to. If they have any questions regarding football, but also on how to become a better human, then [answering them] is the main target from days like this.
Distributed by APO Group on behalf of FIFA.
Contact for African media: AfricanMedia@fifa.org
