Aspire Zone, also known as Doha Sports City,[1] is a 250-hectare (2.5 km2) sporting complex located in the Baaya district of Al Rayyan, a suburb of Doha, Qatar.[2] Owned by the Aspire Zone Foundation, it was established as an international sports destination in 2003 and in the following year an educational centre for the development of sporting champions (Aspire Academy) was opened.[3] The complex contains several sporting venues, mostly constructed in preparation for the 2006 Asian Games.[4]
Aspire Zone is also home to Doha's tallest structure, the Aspire Tower, and is adjacent to Villaggio Mall, the most popular mall in Qatar.
The complex is an important feature in the 2022 FIFA World Cup bid submitted by the Qatar Football Association, and was central to the Doha bid for the 2016 Summer Olympics put forward by the Qatar Olympic Committee.
In 2024, the Aspire Zone Foundation created the Equality Cup, an international football tournament.[5]
Sporting venues
editAspire Zone's sporting venues include:
- Khalifa International Stadium, a 50,000-capacity stadium primarily used for football matches.
- Hamad Aquatic Center, an Olympic-size swimming pool.
- The Aspire Dome, which is the world's largest indoor multi-purpose sports hall and contains 13 different playing fields.[6]
Aspire Academy
editAspire Academy, a sporting academy for youth, is located in the center of Aspire Zone.[7]
Aspetar
editAspetar, a specialised orthopaedic and sports medicine hospital, is among the facilities of Aspire Zone. Commencing operations in 2007,[8] it was the first-ever sports medicine hospital in the Middle East region. It earned accreditation as a FIFA Medical Centre of Excellence in 2009.[9] The hospital publishes a journal entitled Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal.[10]
References
edit- ^ "Qatar Building US$20 Mln Underground Stadium For 2011 Asian Cup". Indian Muslims. 2007-10-26. Archived from the original on 2012-02-19. Retrieved 2009-11-06.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ Ramsak, Bob (2009-11-04). "The Aspire Dome, centre stage for Doha 2010". IAAF. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012.
- ^ Academy, Aspire. "Home". www.aspire.qa. Retrieved 2015-08-10.
- ^ Aspire Zone Foundation. Aspire Zone. Retrieved on 2009-11-06.
- ^ "Equality Cup Football Tournament in collaboration with Zenit Saint Petersburg FC". aspirezone.qa.
- ^ Media Information : FAQ'S Archived November 5, 2009, at the Wayback Machine. Aspire Zone. Retrieved on 2009-11-06.
- ^ Mercy Njue (3 May 2017). "Aspire Academy: Unlocking the potential of Qatar's youth". AIPS Media. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "Qatar Orthopaedic & Sports Medicine Hospital (ASPETAR)". Helen Ziegler & Associates. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ Daniel Etchells (25 October 2015). "IPC's medical and scientific director visits Aspetar hospital during World Championships in Doha". insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 18 January 2018.
- ^ "Browse By Publication: Aspetar Sports Medicine Journal". QUT ePrints. Retrieved 18 January 2018.