During an official visit to Qatar, World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) Secretary-General, Zurab Pololikashvili, stopped at Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) to witness the sporting organisation’s renowned global facilities and get a closer look at the vital role its member organisations – Aspire Academy, Aspetar, and Aspire Logistics – play in supporting the sports sector and professional athletes in Qatar and around the world.
Pololikashvili and his accompanying delegation were welcomed by the Director General of Aspire Logistics, Abdullah Nasser al-Naimi, who led the tour and helped them all explore the world-class facilities at AZF.
As well as visiting Aspire Academy and Aspetar, the Orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, the tour also included a stop at Khalifa International Stadium, Qatar’s first 40,000-seater tournament ready venue that will host games during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Pololikashvili expressed his admiration to what he had seen at AZF at the conclusion of the tour and said; “My experience today was unique and confirmed the opinion I have heard from plenty of renowned athletes that have had the chance to visit Aspire Zone Foundation and witnessed its one-of-a-kind distinguished facilities first hand. The organisation’s mix of a medical hospital, academic school and international standard venues makes it one of the world’s foremost sporting institutions. I congratulate the State of Qatar for constructing something as impressive as Aspire and wish it all the success for the future.”
Pololikashvili added; “I was also delighted to have been able to visit one of the venues that will host matches at the next FIFA World Cup, where I understand they are expecting over a million tourists, all of whom will have the opportunity to explore Qatar and its rich culture, traditions and hospitality. I’m excited that the World Tourism Organization will be able to work with Qatar’s National Tourism Council in the build up to the 2022 FIFA World Cup to ensure tourists understand what Qatar is like and what they can expect from the first FIFA World Cup to be held in the Middle East.”
Director General of Aspire Logistics Abdullah Nasser al-Naimi (right) gifted a memento to UN World Tourism Organization Secretary-General Zurab Pololikashvili.
