Children take part in a fun football activity game at the L’Batak Fan Zone during the 2013 Emir Cup competition.
Doha: The youth-engaging football themed L’Batak Fan Zone, which was officially launched during the Emir Cup 2013, will return during Qatar’s AFC Asian Cup 2015 qualifier against Yemen on Sunday, the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell announced yesterday.
L’Batak is a high-tech football themed Fan Zone aimed at encouraging youth to get healthy and active.
L’Batak offers a unique, flexible version of a modern-day fitness centre featuring a wide range of activities, recreating cardio-based physical movements that would occur in a traditional gym environment, such as running, lunges, and squats, within a football themed space.
The Fan Zone activities include freestyle kicks, goal scoring and football related computer games, amongst others.
An automated counter is used to calculate scores and display the total number of calories burnt for each participant.
L’Batak is part of the broader KOORA TIME initiative targeting youth aged 13 – 17 across Qatar and promoting greater physical activity amongst youth. L’Batak was launched during the Emir Cup last season, of which Qatar Shell has been the Lead Partner for eight consecutive years.
Khalid Al Kuwari, Marketing Director, Qatar Football Association said: “We are delighted to entertain our fans on this important day for our National Team and call on the public to attend the fun-packed day and enjoy the match and the variety of activities. This activity is another example that showcases QFA’s commitment to improve the fan experience at National Team games while also encouraging fans to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle through football.”
Rob Sherwin, Deputy Country Chairman of Qatar Shell Companies said: “Innovation is key to all of Shell’s business in Qatar, therefore it is appropriate that this football themed Fan Zone L’Batak is innovative, hi-tech, and of course fun – hopefully showing participants that physical activity isn’t a chore – but a part of maintaining good health and an active lifestyle on a daily basis.”
Sherwin added: “The return of L’Batak at this crucial Asian Cup 2015 Qualifier will give Qatar’s youth the opportunity to keep fit through more football, leading in turn to healthier youth, and a better future for Qatar.”
To date, over 8,000 young people across the country have participated in L’Batak’s fun packed activities.
The match is set to kick-off on October 13, at 7:30pm at Al Gharafa Stadium with the Fan Zone opening its doors to the general public from 6pm.
THE PENINSULA
