The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) is sponsoring seven Ramadan football tournaments in Qatar this year, and six football tournaments in the GCC region – two more than in 2016.
The Holy Month of Ramadan is a time for strengthening social bonds with neighbours and friends, as well as the traditional time to take to the football pitch for some of the most renowned football tournaments in Qatar and the region.
Commenting on the local sponsorships, spokesman of the SC’s Community Engagement division, Ali Mahmoud, said, “We’re delighted to play a part in celebrating Qatar’s passion for football, particularly during the Holy Month of Ramadan. This is part of our commitment to use the hosting of the 2022 World Cup to promote local football culture and encourage healthy lifestyles.”
The SC will also reach out to fellow citizens of Qatar during the Holy Month to increase local participation in the sport and promote a healthy lifestyle among youth and children. The seven local tournaments to be supported by the SC in 2017 are Al Wajbah, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Al Thakhira, Sumaisma, Al Majlis and Al Rayyan TV.
Mahmoud also expressed happiness at the SC having extended its sponsorship of the GCC tournaments from four in 2016.
“We believe that the 2022 FIFA World Cup is a regional one and hence we decided to expand on our GCC sponsorships this year,” he said. “We are delighted to continue our association with the Al Roudan tournament in Kuwait, one of the oldest in the region, and the Mondial Hisham Fulath competition in Bahrain. We also look forward to beginning our association with Nas in Dubai, Al Bank in Jeddah, Twasel in Muscat and Sheikh Nasser al-Khalifah in Bahrain.”
Ramadan evenings are renowned for football across the GCC region, and the SC will sponsor two tournaments in Bahrain and one apiece in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Oman and Kuwait.
Al Roudan in Kuwait was one of the most high-profile regional Ramadan tournaments last year, and witnessed the participation of UAE playmaker Omar Abdulrahman and Brazil defender David Luiz.
Abdulrahman and Luiz had endorsed the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar last year during the tournament.
SC representatives will attend all the sponsored GCC tournaments at different times during Ramadan, Mahmoud confirmed. “We will be present at the six tournaments to interact with the spectators, answer their questions, update them on preparations for the first World Cup in the Arab world, and register volunteers for our Volunteers Programme,” he said.
(SC.qa)
Action from last year’s Ramadan tournament in Al Roudan, Kuwait.
