Qatar University teams up with Olympic academy

Qatar University (QU) and the Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) recently agreed to join sides to complement their sports activities and events.

QOA will have access to QU's sporting and administrative venues to organize sports training courses, and QU will gain a platform to conduct research and develop academic courses in sports-related areas, including anti-doping, sport administration, sports medicine, and sports for disabled individuals.

"Qatar University is keen to create a balanced environment that integrates academic and sports activities and help students to enhance their academic performance and to enrich their experience," Abdulla Al-Yafei, director of QU's Student Services and Activities, said. "Being the national higher education institution, QU is increasing its international visibility by encouraging students to participate in international and local sporting events and tournaments."

QU and QOA also will share sports-related ideas and experiences, exchange athletes to take part in international sports activities, and host sports delegations.

"Having strong relationships with international sport stakeholders and partners such as the International Olympic Committee does not hinder us from establishing collaboration with Qatar University as an academic institution that gathers hundreds of national youth," QOA Executive Director Saif Mohammed Al Naemi said. "The agreement will allow us to set up many training programs in topics related to the sports sector."