Best Buddies global ambassador Tom Brady will join the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Qatar Museums (QM) and Best Buddies participants in Qatar at Khalifa International Stadium on April 15 to officially launch the new partnership between the two organisations to incorporate individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) in the organisation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
The event – run by the SC’s flagship CSR programme Generation Amazing – will celebrate diversity and inclusion and bring together people with and without disabilities for a day of fun with Brady, a US National Football League (NFL) star and five-time Super Bowl champion.
“Tom Brady has served as an exemplary global ambassador for Best Buddies since 2003, and helped bring an even greater awareness to the infinite abilities people with intellectual and developmental disabilities possess,” said Anthony Kennedy Shriver, founder, chairman and CEO of Best Buddies International. “Tom has proven himself to be a committed advocate for individuals with disabilities, always going above and beyond the call of duty to help promote a world of inclusion and opportunity for this population. Tom’s work in Qatar on behalf of Best Buddies will change lives for the better.”
As part of the new partnership, the SC has committed to integrating 20 individuals with IDD in Qatar through the Tamkeen initiative, the SC’s inclusivity initiative, in Qatar’s organisation and hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping participants grow their independence and work alongside others in their community.
The partnership with QM included the commitment of integrating 20 individuals into QM’s operations and programmes.
During his visit to Qatar, Tom will be hosted by HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad al-Thani to some of the country’s most prestigious destinations and landmarks, including the Museum of Islamic Art, a visit to Al Shaqab - an ultramodern equestrian facility, Khalifa International Stadium and a trip to enjoy the spectacular landscapes in Qatar's Sealine desert. The tour will conclude by attending the opening ceremony of Qatar National Library.
Best Buddies International is the world's largest organisation dedicated to ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200mn people with IDD. The organisation's programmes help people with disabilities form meaningful friendships, secure successful jobs and develop indispensable leadership skills to advocate for themselves and their peers. Best Buddies currently operates in 50 countries and impacts the lives of more than 1.2mn individuals globally.
Generation Amazing is the landmark football-focused social development program of the SC. It uses football for development initiatives to address social issues in countries with an identified need, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Through the construction of community football pitches, the delivery of comprehensive football for development training and the involvement of young people, the programme reaches some of the world’s most excluded people, especially those experiencing high levels of deprivation. It also promotes sustainable behaviors among young people in Qatar and across the region.
