Multiple studies indicate the positive impact of sports on the physical and psychological health of children and adolescents and how sporting activities cultivate a healthy lifestyle, develop perseverance and encourages sportsmanship. To support of Qatar’s sporting youth, Quantum Global Solutions (QGS) recently sponsored the Qatar youth teams participating at the Gaelic Athletic Association’s (GAA) World Games in Abu Dhabi. QGS’s support of the GAA, for the second consecutive year, forms part of the company’s ongoing corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme to support community initiatives. The Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA), formed in Qatar in 2004, is a volunteer led, community based organisation that promotes Gaelic games such as hurling, football, handball and rounders.
The World GAA Games took place in Abu Dhabi in early March at the Zayed Sports City in the United Arab Emirates capital. Twenty-four teams from nine countries and continents of the world including Argentina, Asia, Australasia, Canada, New York, North America, Europe, South Africa and from around the Middle East travelled to compete in the inaugural competition.
Peter Murphy, QGS Managing Director said, “We are very pleased to support Qatar’s GAA teams to participate in the World Games in Abu Dhabi. Corporate social responsibility is an integral element in Quantum’s philosophy to support our local community. Our sponsorship of the GAA is aimed at helping to popularise and encourage participation in Gaelic games within the local community and to promote an active and healthy lifestyle. We are proud to be an active sponsor of the GAA and are happy to see the organisation go from strength to strength and to see such enthusiastic participation in the sport by youngsters of all ages”.
The three Qatar teams fought hard in the strongly contended competition and played in the spirt of the GAA ‘Go-Games’. The ‘Go-Games’ philosophy is about the taking part, and not the winning or losing. Qatar had three teams Under 8’s, 10’s and 12’s. Some had traveled for the weekend and some had flown in the morning of their matches and all three teams put in great performances. After the youth games the kids relaxed and got ready for the excitement of the Senior Finals. It was the Middle East ‘B’ team that took the honors on the day much to the disappointment of the ‘A’ Team.
The Qatar teams included 15 boys and 15 girls who regularly train on Friday mornings at the Aspire Park. The GAA welcome new members to join their multi-cultural community, information on joining and the GAA’s activities can be found at www.qataryouthgaa.com.