Sultan Al Morraikhi, (centre), Qatar Motor and Motorcycling Federation’s Board Member and International Motorcycling Federation’s Environmental Commission Member, along with instructor Mark Schulz (in grey) and students from Al Khor International School pose for a picture at Losail International Circuit. QMMF launched the Children Academy, which is part of a programme to promote road safety in Qatar.
DOHA: Qatar Motor and Motorcycle Federation (QMMF) launched the QMMF Children Academy at Losail International Circuit (LIC), this week.
Twenty students from Al Khor International School students attended the opening of the academy, after being invited by the QMMF.
Mark Schulz instructed the students who were aged from 6 to 11 years old, who experienced for the first time riding a bike.
The event was part of the Qatar National Day celebrations held on December 18, and was also part of the programme to promote road safety in Qatar.
All children were equipped with suits and equipment according to their sizes and were briefed by Schulz before starting the bikes. The first laps were done individually with Schulz to get the first contact with the bikes and later they rode in small groups.
Nasser bin Khalifa Al Attiyah, QMMF President, LIC General Manager, International Motorcycling Federation (FIM), Vice President and International Motor Federation (FIA) President Cross Country Commission said: “QMMF are very happy that we started the QMMF Children Academy project I hope will discover future talent and raised safety awareness through education.”
He added: “We hope that in the future, we can have more schools collaborating and be part in our education for young riders like today. Al Khor International School had the opportunity to have fun always with good lessons of safety and environmental education for riding.
“We are hoping to reach the society with this good example for the family and be involved with us in the future. We also hope to have a good support from the government and local companies to give us good tools to work together to educate the young generation.”
Meanwhile, Sultan Al Morraikhi, QMMF Board Member and FIM Environmental Commission Member, said that the launch of the QMMF Children Academy is a good start for the young riders to develop their riding skills in safety and awareness lessons.
He said: “We are very happy to see how the children and their parents enjoyed this day under the supervision of experienced instructors. It is very important to educate our young children always in the safety side and environmental education for riding.”
The QMMF Children Academy came a week after FIA President Jean Todt said that Qatar can play an important role in raising awareness about road safety.
“Qatar has been running road safety campaigns. It has the enforcement forces to keep people safe on the roads. It has the required infrastructure to create awareness programmes that will deliver the message to these young kids and other people in the country,” said Todt
“I am convinced that Qatar can be the shining example in this regard,” he said during his visit this month. THE PENINSULA
