New year of students has chance of place at Aspire

The program has become a yearly fixture for athletically-inclined schoolchildren in Qatar, with successful participants offered the chance of a place in the world-renowned Academy.

First launched in 2004, the Talent Identification program represents an important first step for young people who have aspirations to pursue sports at a higher level. Divided into Bronze, Silver, and Gold stages, it is one of the most sophisticated programs to test children's athletic potential conducted anywhere in the world.

The Bronze stage tests students in the sixth grade, examining core areas of speed, endurance, and upper and lower body strength, as well as measuring body shape and mass.

Beginning in February and ending this month, Bronze stage organizers are visiting schools across Qatar, in addition to hosting sessions at Al Gharafa Sports Club for those schools without sufficient space for the tests.

Successful students from the first stages will be eligible to move on to the Silver stage. For this level, the Aspire coaches and staff monitor them again for their athletic ability, but also for competitiveness and mental attitude.

Esa Peltola, Aspire's Performance Enhancement and Talent ID section head, said: "The talent identification program has become an important part of the wider development program for Qatar, helping us to discover students with ability, and also encouraging all participants to perform to their full potential. Even though only a small number of students will be eligible to join Aspire, everyone benefits from taking part."

The final Gold stage will be conducted in April, with the final group of students taking part in classes at Aspire to assess their overall potential.

In total, only one percent of participants are offered places at Aspire, reflecting the Academy's elite profile and the high standards expected of its student-athletes.

However, the program also generates valuable data about the overall health of school-children in Qatar, and helps local federations with their recruitment and community engagement activities.

Aspire offers advanced training in a range of sports including athletics, football, sailing, squash and table tennis.