QFA, Qatar Shell Announce Guinness World Record Attempt

Doha, February 09 (QNA) - Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell have announced that they will attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the largest ever 5-a-side football match in celebration of the National Sports Day 2013. The step comes following the launch of Koora Time, a five-year sustainable initiative designed to improve the health and wellbeing of Qatar's youth through football. The game which is open to the general public will kick off at 9 a.m. at Aspire Zone and is expected to run continuously for ten hours, or until the record of 464 players, which was set in the U.K. in 2012 is broken. Guinness World Records officials will be in attendance to oversee the record attempt from start to finish. "We are excited to kick off the Koora Time initiative with a bang. The world record attempt will be the first of many activities under the banner of Koora Time and is an opportunity for the whole family to get active and celebrate the National Sports Day in a fun and non competitive environment," HE QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmad Al-Thani said. The current record stands at 464 players and was set by BBC Radio 5 Live at the Sheffield United Academy on October 13. The event ran 24 hours and was held to raise money for Children in Need, a British charity. Commenting on the event, Qatar Shell Managing Director and Chairman Wael Sawan said that "more football will lead to healthier youth and that is why this National Sports Day we encourage everyone from all over Qatar to come and play, along with their family and friends and support us as we strive to achieve our long-term goal of improving the health and wellbeing of Qatar's youth." "This event demonstrates our commitment to the Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar's National Development Strategy 2011-2016, which seeks to improve the health and wellbeing of Qatar's youth, while empowering them to become advocates of a positive change in the Qatari society." HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani inaugurated in 2012 the National Sports Day, which is celebrated every second Tuesday of February. (QNA)