Aspire Academy

{{Infobox venue

| name = Aspire Academy

| stadium_name = Aspire Dome

| centre_name = Aspire Academy

| native_name = {{lang|ar|أكاديمية أسباير}}

| former names = ASPIRE Academy for Sports Excellence

| logo_image = Aspire Academy Logo White.png

| caption = Aspire Academy - Student-athletes Building

| location = Al Rayyan, Qatar

| coordinates = {{Coord|25.268071|51.443605}}

| opened = 2004

| website = {{url|Aspire.qa}}

}}

Aspire Academy ({{langx|ar|أكاديمية أسباير|Akādīmiyat 'Asbāyr}}) is a sports academy based in the Aspire Zone in Qatar,{{cite web|url=http://www.aipsmedia.com/2017/05/03/20787/aspire-academy-aspire-zone-doha-qatar-athletes-mercy-njue|title=Aspire Academy: Unlocking the potential of Qatar's youth|author=Mercy Njue|date=3 May 2017|access-date=18 January 2018}} founded in 2004 with the goal to scout and help develop Qatari athletes, whilst also providing them with secondary school education.

History

File:AspireAcademyGraduates2012.jpg

Aspire Academy was established by an emiri decree, No. 16 of 2004,{{cite web|url = http://www.almeezan.qa/LawPage.aspx?id=111&language=ar|title = Emiri Decree, No. (16) 2004 - Aspire Academy for Sports Excellence Establishment|access-date =18 September 2015 |publisher =Almeezan.qa }} as an independent government-funded agency that reported directly to the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani through the heir apparent, Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani.

Later, an emiri decree – no.1 of 2008{{cite web|url = http://www.almeezan.qa/LawPage.aspx?id=2762&language=ar|title = Emiri Decree No. (1) 2008 - Aspire Zone Foundation establishment|access-date =18 September 2015 |publisher =Almeezan.qa }} – incorporated the Aspire Academy as a strategic business unit (SBU) into the new, parent organization of Aspire Zone Foundation. Despite the switch from an independent government body to an SBU, the original purpose and objectives of the Aspire Academy remained the same.

On 17 November 2005, the Emir Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani led an opening ceremony of the Aspire Dome, essentially signaling the global announcement of Aspire Academy as an international institute of high standing. Over the years, it has received international recognition.{{cite web|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=195667&version=1&template_id=49&parent_id=29 |title=Messi lauds facilities at Aspire Academy|access-date=11 August 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120121031626/http://www.gulf-times.com/site/topics/article.asp?cu_no=2&item_no=195667&version=1&template_id=49&parent_id=29 |archive-date=21 January 2012 }}{{Cite web|date=9 September 2012|title=QFA {{!}} Qatar Football Association - FC Bayern Munich to Camp in ASPIRE…|url=http://www.qfa.com.qa/fc-bayern-munich-to-camp-in-aspire-academy.aspx|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120909114017/http://www.qfa.com.qa/fc-bayern-munich-to-camp-in-aspire-academy.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=9 September 2012|access-date=4 July 2020|website=archive.is}}{{cite web|last=Bennett |first=Tom |url=http://backpagefootball.com/international/aspire-academy-qatars-future-of-football/ |title=Aspire Academy: Qatar's Future of Football - Back Page Football Back Page Football |date=30 December 2011 |publisher=Backpagefootball.com |access-date=18 September 2015}}

Aspire own Spanish team Cultural Leonesa{{cite web|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/story/518773/Aspire-owned-Cultural-Leonesa-hope-to-shock-Real|title=Aspire-owned Cultural Leonesa hope to shock Real|date=25 October 2016|access-date=19 March 2018}} and Belgian team K.A.S. Eupen. In August 2017, Spanish side Atlético Astorga FC announced links with Aspire Academy. The link up saw some Aspire based players join the club.{{cite web|url=http://desdelagrada.es/2017/08/17/aspire-cede-jugadores-y-cuerpo-tecnico-al-atletico-astorga/|title=Aspire gives players and coaching staff to Atlético Astorga|publisher=Desde La Grada|access-date=11 August 2018}} As of 3 January 2018, Aspire also have an official partnership with Leeds United in England.{{cite web|url=https://www.leedsunited.com/news/club-news/22815/leeds-united-launch-aspire-academy-partnership|title=LEEDS UNITED LAUNCH ASPIRE ACADEMY PARTNERSHIP|publisher=Leeds United A.F.C.|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180104013923/https://www.leedsunited.com/news/club-news/22815/leeds-united-launch-aspire-academy-partnership|archive-date=4 January 2018|url-status=dead}} They also have a satellite academy in the African country of Senegal.{{cite web|url=http://www.aspire.qa/FootballAspireDreams.aspx|title=Aspire Football Dreams|first=Aspire|last=Academy|website=aspire.qa|access-date=19 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180326034119/http://www.aspire.qa/FootballAspireDreams.aspx|archive-date=26 March 2018|url-status=dead}}

In January 2019 and January 2020 the complex hosted the Match Premier Cup friendly tournament.{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/ | title=PariMatch Premier Cup | date=2021-07-22 | accessdate=2021-11-23}}

In September 2023, the Aspire Academy and Qatar Football Association (QFA) signed a cooperation agreement to further develop the coaching education system and enhance their joint expertise.{{cite web | url= https://www.gulf-times.com/article/667862/sports/qfa-and-aspire-academy-join-hands-to-bolster-coaching-education| title=QFA and Aspire Academy join hands to bolster coaching education | date=2023-09-05 | accessdate=2023-09-05}}{{cite web | url=https://menafn.com/1107006239/Qfa-And-Aspire-Academy-Join-Hands-To-Bolster-Coaching-Education | title=Qfa And Aspire Academy Join Hands To Bolster Coaching Education | date=2023-09-05 | accessdate=2023-09-05}}

Achievements

File:Aerial view of Aspire Academy and Al Aziziyah Boutique Hotel in Baaya.jpg and the academy's football pitches]]

= Football =

In 2014, the Qatar U-19 national football team, composed solely of Aspire Academy student-athletes, won the 38th edition of the AFC U-19 Championship in Myanmar, for the first time in Qatar's history.{{cite web | url=https://www.qfa.qa/u-19-national-team/ | title=U-19 National team | date= | accessdate=2021-11-23}}{{cite web | url=https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/17/01/2018/Qatar-football-moving-in-right-direction,-says-coach-Sanchez| title=Qatar football moving in right direction, says coach Sanchez| date=2018-01-17 | accessdate=2021-11-23}} With the same Aspire players, the senior side managed to win the nation's first ever AFC Asian Cup in the 2019 edition.{{Cite web|url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/02/live-updates-japan-qatar-asian-cup-final-190201110503552.html|title = Qatar welcomes Asian Cup football champions home}}

= Athletics =

Mutaz Essa Barshim, high jumper, has been the 2014 World Indoor Champion, the 2017 and 2019 World Champion and a 2020 Summer Olympics gold medalist, besides holding the Asian record and second best outdoor high jump in history.{{cite web|title = IAAF: Barshim beats Bondarenko in Brussels with Asian high jump record – IAAF Diamond League {{!}} iaaf.org|url = http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/brussels-diamond-league-bondarenko-lavillenie|publisher=Iaaf.org|access-date = 10 August 2015}}{{cite web|title = Barshim wins Diamond League & breaks new records|url = http://www.redbull.com/mea/en/stories/1331676986860/barshim-wins-diamond-league-and-breaks-new-records|access-date = 10 August 2015|first = Red|last = Bull|website = Red Bull}} set during the 2014 Diamond League.{{cite web|title = IAAF: Athlete profile for Mutaz Essa Barshim|url = http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/qatar/mutaz-essa-barshim-253964|publisher=Iaaf.org|access-date = 12 August 2015}}
Abdulla Al-Tamimi, professional squash player, was also a footballer scouted by Al Sadd SC at the Aspire Academy, is the Qatari number 1 and the world number 18.{{cite web|url = https://psaworldtour.com/players/view/2684/abdulla-mohd-al-tamimi?tab=info|publisher=psaworldtour.com|access-date = 23 October 2020|title=Abdulla Mohd al Tamimi | Professional Squash Association}}
Ashraf El Seify, hammer thrower, graduated from Aspire Academy in 2014, won a gold medal at the 2012 Asian Junior Athletics Championships and 2012 World Junior Athletics Championships setting a new World Junior Record{{cite web|title = Aspire Academy athlete Ashraf El-Seify sets new world junior record in Barcelona|date = 19 July 2012|url = http://www.qatarisbooming.com/article/aspire-academy-athlete-ashraf-el-seify-sets-new-world-junior-record-barcelona|publisher=Qatarisbooming.com|access-date = 12 August 2015}} and World Youth Best.{{cite web|title = IAAF: Athlete profile for Ashraf Amgad Elseify|url = http://www.iaaf.org/athletes/qatar/ashraf-amgad-elseify-263571|publisher=Iaaf.org|access-date = 12 August 2015}} In 2014, Ashraf became the 1st athlete to successfully defend his title at the IAAF World Junior Championships.{{cite web|title = IAAF: Report: men's hammer throw – IAAF World Junior Championships, Oregon 2014 {{!}} iaaf.org|url = http://www.iaaf.org/news/report/report-men-hammer-throw-iaaf-world-junior-cha|publisher=Iaaf.org|access-date = 12 August 2015}}