NNHLHL | Page 5 TTENNISENNIS | Page 7 Penguins Nadal sweeps allow 10 goals into Beijing for fi rst time semis; Halep since 1996 in last four Saturday, October 7, 2017 FOOTBALL Muharram 17, 1439 AH Heynckes — Bayern’s GULF TIMES treble-winning hero back at the helm SPORT Page 2 SPOTLIGHT Qatar can compete with world’s best in 2022: Bravo By A Correspondent der to compete with the best teams in width. That has structure and soli- players are constantly facing new London the world in 2022. darity. All of our coaches believe we challenges so that they are prepared Speaking at Aspire4Sport he said, are on a mission. But we want all our for what is to come at the 2022 FIFA “Despite some people being scepti- players to believe in the model so we World Cup Qatar. t the opening of this year’s cal about whether Qatar can compete can compete with the rest.” Bravo added: “All these guys are Aspire4Sport Congress & in 2022, we think very diff erently. We He noted that central to Qatar’s coming up very quickly. Feeling the Exhibition, delegates from have no doubt that the team in 2022 football development model is in- jersey and feeling the pride.” the world’s biggest foot- can make things happen and compete stilling a belief in the players that One strategy being implemented Aball clubs were told about the huge with some of the best teams playing.” “the kids from the neighbourhoods in by QFA is allowing its youth players to progress being made by the Aspire He noted that QFA has worked Doha can compete with the rest in the compete at tournaments against older Academy and the Qatar Football As- with the Aspire Academy to identify world”. players, in the belief that facing dif- sociation (QFA) in the build up to the a footballing philosophy that will de- He added: “We want to create a fi cult challenges early in their career 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. fi ne how the national team play at the sense of national pride in those that means that they are better prepared for Aspire Academy director general World Cup, with players coached in want to play for Qatar. We want to see the challenges that lie ahead. In what Ivan Bravo delivered a speech out- those playing principles through all a real passion for wearing the national is a sign of the progress being made, lining Qatar’s football development stages of their development. jersey.” players from Qatar recently competing programme and the journey Qatar’s He said: “We want to be an aggres- The approach to player develop- with players from Belgian’s Jupiler Pro young players are undertaking in or- sive team that plays with depth and ment has been to ensure that Qatar’s League and Spain’s La Liga. FOCUS Global sporting greats praise Aspire4Sport in London Stamford Bridge saw influencers, industry experts, athletes come together for the event Aspire Zone calls for collaboration to deliver best experience to fans Leading figures in tech, business and sport met at the Aspire Tech Conference hosted at Stamford Bridge in London to discuss new applications of technology in the sports sector. Supported by Microsoft, CISCO, IBM and Honeywell, topics at this year’s conference focused on innovation and best practices in disruptive technologies and creating modern, digital and interac- tive stadium experiences for fans. Industry leaders agreed that advancements in con- nectivity and mobile technology will enable clubs and stadiums to deliver more personalised and informative experience to fans. “Technological advancements will allow clubs and stadiums to deliver a more personalised and engaging experience for fans attending a match. From the moment a fan purchases a ticket and leaves their front door to attend a live match, they can opt-in to be updated with information which optimizes their route, provides them with relevant information on the teams playing and even off ers bespoke coupons for restaurant and entertainment venues nearby based on their likes,” Kenneth Martin, Ex- ecutive Director Global Sales, Sports and Entertainment, Consumer Industries for IBM, said. Microsoft’s business architect for Digital Innovation Minister of Culture and Sports His Excellency Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali and Supreme Committee for Delivery Former coach Arrigo Sacchi (left) of Italy with Qatar’s high jump world and Transformation Daniel Mehaff ey said, “The indus- & Legacy (SC) secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi at Aspire4Sport in London yesterday. PICTURES: Fadi al-Assaad champion Mutaz Barshim at Aspire4Sport yesterday. try is making progress in providing fans with greater access to the moments that matter to them; whether By A Correspondent being the greatest ever. I want to be that be through additional points of view of the match, London someone that inspires people to get tunnel cams or replays of crucial moments.” out and do something with their Improvements to security and sporting performance life,” he said. were key themes in the second discussion, which dis- spire4Sport Congress and He also highlighted how part- cussed the impact of disruptive technologies on sports. Exhibition made a suc- nering with the Aspire Academy On security, Dima Tamimi, director of Smart Cities, cessful opening at Chel- has helped him to not only compete Mega Events and Vertical Industries, High Growth sea’s Stamford Bridge in with the best athletes in the world, Regions at Honeywell, said, “Facial recognition technol- ALondon yesterday. The two-day but to beat them, as he did by win- ogy is improving tenfold every 3-6 months, so its qual- event is designed to shape the fu- ning gold at the most recent World ity today versus what it will be in a year is tremendous. ture of the sports industry, enhance Championships held in London. For example, just one person will be able to watch up the fan experience and spread best He said: “The Aspire Academy is to 300 cameras at a time and if something out of the practice in athlete development. the pillar for sportspeople in Doha. ordinary occurs the venue operator will be notified of In attendance were the Minister Not just in football but also for ath- the problem by the technology.” of Culture and Sports His Excel- letics. At the Aspire Academy, there John Short, Global Business Development executive lency Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser are so many people working hard to at IBM’s Sports and Entertainment Practice, said: “Arti- al-Ali, Qatar’s ambassador to the make sure Qatar has athletes per- ficial intelligence and machine learning is fundamen- United Kingdom, Yousef bin Ali forming at the highest level. tally changing how the sports industry views player al-Khater, the Supreme Commit- Former Newcastle United coach “The most important thing the performance and health. It allows clubs to make more tee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) sec- Kevin Keegan speaks during Star Academy taught me was self-con- informed decisions on how to optimise their perform- retary general Hassan al-Thawadi Chat yesterday. fi dence. It changed my mindset as ance on the field.” and Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck. an athlete, as I started to see my- Aspire Zone Foundation manager for IT Strategy and The Aspire Academy welcomed ventus among others. will help people to evolve and to In a Star Chat, hosted by Sky self as a professional athlete in my Operations, Krishnakumar Kottekkat, said: “Technolo- some of the world’s leading tech Among sporting greats in at- improve. Listening to others, com- Sports’ Hayley McQueen, Keegan mind. gy is rapidly changing how consumers and businesses companies, major European and tendance, included former Ital- paring with others, it’s something said that he believes the World Cup “Another thing they gave me is approach sports. To deliver a better experience for Qatari sports industry profession- ian coach Arrigo Sacchi, former that will make you better,” Sacchi, will be a success. “I think Qatar will time. Some parents think sport is a fans and optimize the performance of athletes across als, as well as representatives from Newcastle United coach Kevin who managed one of the greatest surprise a lot of people with the waste of time; you should concen- the world, we need to work together to continue to in- 80 of the world’s most prestigious Keegan, as well as Aspire Academy AC Milan teams of all time, said. World Cup. I think it will be a great trate on studies. novate and push the boundaries of technology.” football clubs that form part of the graduate, and Qatar’s high jumping One of the major themes from world cup, no doubt about it,” he “But with the Aspire Academy, Ibrahim M Jaidah, CEO and Chief Architect of the Arab Aspire in the World Fellows com- world champion Mutaz Barshim. the fi rst day was the 2022 FIFA said. I didn’t have to choose. I received Engineering Bureau, which designed the Al Thumama munity, making it one of the most Former Netherland international World Cup Qatar, with a focus on In another Star Chat later in that both the best sports training and Stadium for the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar, said: infl uential gatherings of its kind footballer Ronald de Boer was also the progress being made both on day, Barshim discussed his inten- an education delivered to the “We consider technology in the earliest stages of in the world. The community in- in attendance. and off the fi eld by the Qatari na- tion to inspire future generation of highest standard. Here you have designing new stadia. We are working in collaboration cludes Manchester United, Arse- “It’s a great event which has tional football team, and the devel- athletes to do great things, both in everything in the same place, with the world’s leading tech companies to deliver the nal, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Paris been really well organised.