September 19 – Qatar World Cup officials are due to travel to Syria on Tuesday (September 22) for the official opening of a FIFA-standard artificial football pitch in Yarmouk Camp on the outskirts of Damascus, home to the largest Palestinian population in Syria.
The event is a key milestone in the Bid Committee’s “Generation Amazing” project, which aims to use sport as a tool for positive social and community development in four target countries: Syria, Lebanon, Nepal and Pakistan.
Qatar 2022 and project partners UNRWA (United Nations Relief and Works Agency) have chosen ”International Peace Day” as recognised by all 192 United Nations member states, for the inauguration of the pitch, highlighting the objectives of the programme and its alignment with global efforts towards peace and inclusivity.
The redeveloped pitch, housed within the Palestine Athletic City, will host the events that will involve a football match between camp youth.
The competing teams were selected through inter-school football tournaments held previously in the camp and under the auspices of Qatar 2022 through the “Generation Amazing” project.
The teams will include Hani Hweileh and Mahmoud Morei, two of the Youth Ambassadors selected to accompany the Qatar 2022 delegation to the FIFA World Cup in South Africa earlier this year.
Hassan Al Thawadi, the chief executive of Qatar 2022, said: ”We have set out to create a tangible development legacy with our unique ‘Generation Amazing’ initiative.
“The pitch that we have redeveloped to FIFA standard in Yarmouk Camp is expected to cater to over 30,000 people in the future, and we hope that it acts as a catalyst for sustainable community development in the camp.
“Holding the event on Peace Day underlines our goals for this project - to create a legacy of peace and social integration through the power of football.”
Roger Hearn, the director of UNRWA Affairs in Syria said: ”This support from the 2022 Qatar Bid Committee will inspire future Palestinian generations to use sports to reach beyond social boundaries and excel within their community.
“UNRWA believes that young people inspire each other and this project will ensure our children play on pitches instead of streets.”