The Reds of Manchester United set up Camp at ASPIRE Academy

DOHA, Qatar, January 11 /PRNewswire/ –

– Extreme Weather Conditions in England Behind the Choice of Qatar

The prestigious ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence is playing host to
one of the biggest football clubs in the world – English Premier League
champions Manchester United – in a 4-days training camp at the academy’s
world class football fields and sports facilities.

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100111/373990-a )

    (Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20100111/373990-b )

Extreme weather conditions, including heavy snow falls and sub-zero
temperatures have hit Europe for the past week. That made United manager Sir

Alex Ferguson look for warmer climes so that his players would be able to
train outdoors, maintain their physical condition and recharge their
batteries. Sir Alex had many alternatives to choose from but he and his team
have opted for Qatar, and more precisely for the ASPIRE Academy’s
state-of-the art facilities.

Commenting on Manchester United’s presence at ASPIRE, Director General,

Tariq Abdulaziz Al-Naama said:”We, at ASPIRE, are very delighted to warmly
welcome such a big team at our premises. We thank the Manchester United
management for choosing Qatar and ASPIRE for their camp. In our turn, we will
do all the best to make their camp and visit to our academy and our country a
successful one.”

The Reds started their 4 days’ training camp at ASPIRE on Monday, January
11th, finishing on Thursday, January 14th, 2010. Explaining the choice of
Qatar, and ASPIRE in particular, team manager, Sir Alex Ferguson said:”I have
heard a lot about the fantastic facilities at ASPIRE from my coaching staff
and with the weather being so good at this time of the year in Qatar, it was
the perfect opportunity to test them out. The welcome we have received has
been superb and we have already done an excellent training session that just
would not have been possible in the worst conditions in the UK.”

Notes to Editors:

Created in 2004, the ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence in Doha has the
dual aims of identifying and transforming promising student athletes into
world-renowned champions across a wide range of sports and to act as a beacon
to draw sporting culture into the centre of life in Qatar and the surrounding
region.

The Academy is distinguished by a philosophy which aims to develop the
student as a whole, providing them with full academic, social and sporting
development.

Unrivalled facilities, housed in and around the world’s largest purpose
built indoor sports dome, ensure the Academy’s reputation as one of the
foremost sporting and educational institutions in the entire international
community, enticing an ever-increasing number of visitors and users, from
sporting legends to global political leaders.

Every aspect of the development of elite athletes is catered for by one
indoor and seven outdoor football pitches, athletics tracks, an Olympic-sized
swimming pool, diving pool, combat arenas, gymnastics arena, specially
fitness weight rooms, lecture halls, dormitories to accommodate what will
eventually become 1,000 students, a medical centre and many more facilities.

Launched in 2007, the ASPIRE Football Dreams project has annually tests
over 600.000 young footballers from all over the world including Asia, South
America and Africa as part of the largest ever talent search within the sport.

The ASPIRE ACTIVE initiative is a community engagement program spread
across the country ensuring that thousands of the nation’s residents have
accessible and advanced health and fitness activities as routine aspects of
their lives. Each social group is catered for by tailor-made classes and
programs.

ASPIRE Media Information

For All media enquiries (Arabic and English) and high resolution images
contact:

Hassan Esbaiss E: hassan.esbaiss@aspire.qa M: +974-521-9545

SOURCE Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence