28 Sep 2019
Doha, 28 September 2019. On Friday, September 27, Aspire Academy welcomed a high-ranking delegation from Italy including the Minister of Youth Policies and Sport, H.E. Vincenzo Spadafora, the President of the Italian Athletics Federation, Alfio Giomi and the Italian Ambassador to Qatar, H.E. Pasquale Salzano.
The delegation was welcomed by Aspire Academy’s Director of Football Performance and Science, Prof. Valter di Salvo, who told them about the Academy’s philosophy and showed them around the facilities starting from the Dome over the Football Performance Center up to the school. "My impression is extraordinary, this is a center for excellence that has its eyes on the future and embraces the world of sport and football in particular”, said Vincenzo Spadafora.
He also agrees on the importance of investing in the development of young athletes, because it shapes them for life. "In Italy I want a dynamic that brings together youth and sport, not only for the young athletes, or for the sake of sports in general, but also because sport is a conductor of social adhesion and participation for all youngsters, and I believe that, with all this investment and infrastructures dedicated to the youth, that this is the best way to unite two themes, sport and education, that are the foundation for the future of any country".
In his eyes, Aspire Academy could be a role model for Italy. “This is the kind of ideas that we need to implement back in our country, and I've met with the Sports Minister of Qatar before I came here and I'm confident that this will be the beginning of a beneficial cooperation".