19 January 2019 – Doha, Qatar:
French Club and Ligue 1 leaders Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) has successfully concluded its winter training camp at Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF), which took place from 13 – 17 January.
PSG travelled to AZF during the winter break to benefit from the ideal weather conditions in Qatar as they prepare for a number of crucial international matches in the coming weeks.
The club once again chose Aspire Zone – Qatar’s sports hub – as the location for their training camp on account of its world-class facilities and infrastructure, one of the key reasons that Aspire Zone is increasingly the destination of choice for international teams.
The players were joined by media representatives from countries including France, Italy, United Kingdom, Spain, Japan, China, and Brazil. During their time in Qatar, media delegations were also given tours of Aspire Zone member organisations, Aspetar, the orthopedic and sports medicine hospital, and Aspire Academy.
During their training camp, local, regional and international media representatives had the opportunity to meet and conduct exclusive interviews with a number of PSG stars such as Gianluigi Buffon, Edinson Cavani and World Cup winning striker Kylian Mbappé. The stars attended a press conference specially organised by Aspire Zone and attended by more than 25 members of the media.
Commenting on Paris Saint-Germain’s training camp at Aspire Zoneon Wednesday, Nasser Al-Khelaifi, Chairman of QSI, the owner of Paris Saint-Germain Football Club said: “Paris Saint-Germain is a world-class team with some of the best players on the planet. The reaction from local fans to these camps and the players highlights PSG’s huge popularity in Qatar.”
Mohammed Khalifa Al-Suwaidi, CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation said: “We’re proud to once again host PSG’s annual training camp here at Aspire Zone. The world-class facilities that are available, the pitches and the ideal weather conditions are very appealing to European clubs. We’re absolutely focused on ensuring that the team’s entire requirements are met.”
“I would like to extend my appreciation and gratitude to all our partners who have helped to make this camp such a success. We look forward to hosting more exclusive events and training camps in the near future.”
PSG’s Italian goalkeeper, Gianluigi Buffon said: “Preparations for hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022 are going well, and I am sure that Qatar will put on an exceptional tournament. This is my third visit to the country and I can clearly see the strong progress in terms of the infrastructure and the stadiums.”
UruguayanstrikerEdinson Cavani, PSG’s footballer said: "The pace with which the infrastructure is developing in Qatar is incredible. It really is a wonderful country. The participation of Qatar’s national football team in the upcoming Copa America will be good. The tournament is an excellent opportunity for teams to experience different cultures."
Striker Kylian Mbappé said:"The Qatar World Cup will be fascinating and as good as any previous tournament in terms of the intensity of the competition amongst participating teams. I think that our team’s ability to travel here and train at Aspire has a very significant impact on the club given everything that is provided for us in terms of support and facilities.”
Nasser Al-Khater, SC Assistant Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy said: "Welcoming Paris Saint-Germain to Aspire for their winter camp is a great opportunity for Qatar’s football fans. It is a pleasure to host such a major international team in the country.”
Franck Gellet, French Ambassador to Qatar said: "Visiting Khalifa International Stadium for this training camp has given a sense of the World Cup spirit that we can expect in 2022 when the stadium will be packed with thousands of fans. The players have also experienced what the weather conditions will be like when they compete in that tournament. I hope to see some of the members of this team competing in the French national side then.”
Hassan Al-Ibrahim, Head of Tourism Development Sector at Qatar Tourism Authority said:"Qatar is the destination of choice now for more than ten European clubs. This success is clear evidence of the country’s ability to successfully organize and host mega sports event.”
More than 15,000 football enthusiasts watched the open training sessions at KIS
This year, Aspire Zone Foundation provided a unique experience for members of the public with an open training session that attracted thousands of football fans from Qatar and abroad to see footballing stars like Neymar, Cavani, Mbappé and Buffon train. Fans had the opportunity to see their heroes play from just a few meters away.
Many fans that attended were delighted to have been given the opportunity to watch their favourite team train and were very complementary about the facilities available to the team for their training camp.
Key reasons elite teams conduct training camps at Aspire Zone Foundation
AZF is globally recognised for providing an ideal training environment for elite athletes, giving them access to training fields of the highest quality, multi-purpose halls that cater to a variety of sports as well as swimming pools, gyms, and indoor and outdoor running tracks. This provides the ideal environment for teams to prepare for the next phase in their domestic and international competitions.
Aspire Zone offers excellent sporting facilities
Of particular importance to football clubs are Aspire Zone’s training pitches. Aspire Zone Foundation’s commitment to maintaining the highest international standards make its offer truly world-class. Teams return to AZF’s because the quality and convenience of the venues are at least equal to – and often better than – even the biggest teams’ home training facilities. From pitch quality to training equipment, hospitality services to medical centres, AZF’s facilities rival those of the greatest sports teams around the world.
Diversity of training facilities and capacity
In addition to its outdoor facilities, Aspire Dome is the world’s largest indoor multi-purpose dome, offering the highest quality facilities for multiple sports and international events. The total seating capacity of Aspire Dome is 15,500 across 13 separate multi-sport halls. It is located next to Aspire Academy.
Ideal weather conditions
During the winter months, the temperature is moderate and rarely exceeds 25 degrees Celsius. For European teams eager to stay sharp during their winter football breaks, this provides an ideal alternative to domestic training camps.
A unique experience for members of the public
Aspire Zone offers a memorable experience during its training camps by allowing members of the public to watch their favourite stars training from just a few meters away, and the chance to collect autographs from world-class footballers.
International Forum
Aspire training camps attract athletes from the Middle East, Asia, the Americas, Europe and beyond, helping to demonstrate sport’s ability to bridge cultures. This year, AZF has high hopes for further success in using sport to bring people together.