Four of the leading names in US basketball have showcased their skills and inspired others with their dedication to excellence as they visited Qatar Foundation (QF).
The stars from the National Basketball Association (NBA) are spending five days in Doha at the invitation of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) to see how Qatar is preparing to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, how the country is a destination that welcomes the world, and its commitment to encouraging young people to participate in sport.
As part of their visit to Qatar, the NBA guests held a Masterclass for about 40 schoolchildren at the Hamad Bin Khalifa University Student Center at QF’s Education City, attended by H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation; Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al Thani, Managing Director of SC; Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary-General of SC; Omran Al Kuwari, Executive Director, CEO Office, QF and other dignitaries.
The class, which was opened by Al Thawadi, saw triple Olympic gold medalist Carmelo Anthony of the Houston Rockets, four-time NBA All-Star Klay Thompson of the Golden State Warriors, seven-time NBA All-Star Tracy McGrady, and Los Angeles Lakers head coach Luke Walton pass on basketball tips to their young sporting students, before hosting a Q&A session. A friendly competition at QF then pitted the NBA players against Qatar’s national basketball team.
The events at Education City illustrated how QF promotes the sport and physical activity, as a key element of nurturing healthy lifestyles and stronger communities. The visit of the NBA stars also showcased how QF is supporting the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Qatar’s sporting ambitions, and its global profile as a forward-thinking, open, and diverse nation.
Source: Peninsula Qatar
Al Kuwari said, “The dedication and the values of professional sportspeople, such as our guests from the National Basketball Association whom we are delighted to welcome to QF, serve as inspiration for millions of people throughout the world.
“Meeting people who are not only heroes within their sport, but also positive role models for society, in general, is an opportunity for members of the QF community to enhance their recognition of what is required to achieve our goals in life.”
Commenting on the visit, Al Thawadi said, “We’re thrilled to be hosting these sporting icons — their visit is further testament to the support and excitement all over the world for the Qatar 2022 World Cup.
“We’ve always said sports have the power to transcend borders and bring people together. We’re confident that these NBA superstars and their fans will see the great work we’re doing to make Qatar 2022 truly amazing.”
Reflecting on his visit to Education City, Anthony said, “It was great to learn that basketball has such a huge following in Qatar.
“We’ve been impressed with our tour of Qatar Foundation and Education City. The students were great, and it was amazing to see young people from all over the world pursuing their dreams.”
And speaking about his QF experience, Thompson said, “This Masterclass is an example of how Qatar Foundation is helping students who might otherwise not have access to an event like this. The facilities at Qatar Foundation, and the passion of the students, really show the spirit of Qatar ahead of the 2022 World Cup, and I’m excited to find out more about what Qatar has in store for the tournament.”
During their time at Education City, the NBA stars also met students from QF member Hamad Bin Khalifa University and QF’s partner universities, sharing basketball tips and advice on how to succeed in life.
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