ASPIRE goes for gold with the next generation of potential sporting heroes

Results from the program were unveiled today at a prestigious ceremony at the Academy attended by a number of leading figures from Qatar's sporting community.

Students in schools across Qatar have been assessed as part of the intensive testing program, in conjunction with the Department for Physical Education at the Ministry of Education. Through the talent identification process, ASPIRE has examined the physical, emotional and intellectual readiness of students, with the objective of assessing who has the potential to become tomorrow's sporting champions.

Candidates went through a three-stage testing process - ASPIRE Bronze, ASPIRE Silver, and ASPIRE Gold, with successful students moving through the stages depending on their performance.

In the final Gold phase, the candidates participate in a training camp at ASPIRE, working with a highly qualified team of international coaches from the Academy to find out whether they have the right attributes to train to be professional sportspeople.

The successful candidates will have the chance to join ASPIRE as student-athletes, with access to some of the world's most advanced training and development facilities. They will join the Academy in September 2005, and will be given every opportunity to fully develop their potential in a range of sports, including track and field, table tennis, aquatic events, and football.

ASPIRE's talent identification is the most far-reaching program of its kind in the Middle East, and data from the study has provided a strong insight into the levels of health and fitness among the youth of Qatar. For the first time, female students were also evaluated for their sporting potential.

Dr. Andreas Bleicher, ASPIRE's sports manager, said, "People often ask us which pupils are the success stories at ASPIRE, and the reality is that through the talent identification process, every student starts here as a success, having demonstrated they have the ability and mental fitness to begin training on the long road to becoming a professional athlete.

"The talent identification process also enables schools to track overall levels of fitness among their students, to uncover talented student-athletes and encourage students to get involved in sport. Every student who has participated in the process received a certificate to commemorate their involvement, and we're hopeful that this process will contribute to a wider culture of sport in the Middle East."

The talent identification process is an annual event in Qatar, as part of ASPIRE's ongoing mission to unearth new talent in the region. ASPIRE will also offer scholarships to talented student-athletes from around the world, so that the Academy will eventually be home to a fully international community of world-class athletes.

The program encourages students at all levels of ability to take a greater interest in sport and physical exercise. The 'Bronze-Silver-Gold' approach is designed to encourage students to aim for Olympic success and to perform to their full ability.