DOHA: Qatar yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Turkey to promote and develop basketball in both countries.
The agreement to this effect was signed by Sheikh Saoud bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, President of Qatar Basketball Federation (QBF), and Turgay Demirel, chief of Turkish Basketball Federation (TBF) at Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) headquarters.
Both countries pledged to arrange bilateral basketball training camps in various age groups.
Turkey, a rising power in basketball, staged the 2010 Men’s FIBA World Championship. Later this year, Istanbul will stage the 2014 FIBA Women’s World Championship.
Sheikh Saoud, who is also the Secretary-General of QOC, said Qatar is willing to learn and share its experiences with Turkey which is ranked number 7 on the FIBA computer.
“I was in Turkey for the 2014 FIBA Women’s Championship draw recently. We got to see the quality of work they have done in basketball,” Sheikh Saoud said.
“We felt there is plenty to learn and share if both parties come together in this initiative,” he added. “This MoU will help us build on this relationship between Qatar and Turkey,” Sheikh Saoud added.
“We can learn from their experience,” Sheikh Saioud said. “We have put in place a very carefully studied strategy to develop the game of basketball in Qatar. This is part of our strategy,” Sheikh Saoud explained.
“I am pretty confident that this MoU will usher a new era for basketball for us,” the QBF president said.
Demirel said Turkey’s standing as s basketball power would help both countries take the game forward.
“We are looking forward to sharing our experience,” Demirel said. “This MoU will attract the youth to this beautiful sport. That’s what we want to achieve,” he added.
“I have met Sheikh Saoud a few times and our love for basketball made us reach this point,” Demirel said.
“Both of us want to invest in the game at the grassroots level. We are here to share and learn as Sheikh Saoud just said,” Demirel added.
Sheikh Saoud said league champions in Qatar and Turkey will arrange for training camps before the start of the next season. He said junior strings in both countries would also be part of bilateral exchange programmes in the future.
Sheikh Saoud said marketing strategies between QBF and TBF will involve discussions on attracting fans to basketball venues.
“We know that Tukeey a project similar to our Schools Olympic Program. Basketball is a major sport in our Schools Olympic Program. We can work on developing the game at schools level also,” Sheikh Saoud told local media.
Demirel said TBF lay great importance to basketball at school and club level.
“We have a system that helps us choose 3,000 to 4,000 young boys and girls every year. We screen those youngsters and help them become better at basketball,” Demirel said.
“We have seen how Qatar develops its basketball. We see their passion. I am sure this MoU will take us forward with lots to look forward to,” Demirel added.
Sheikh Saoud said: “It is an open agreement. This is not bound by any timeframe. Both parties are keen to work on areas that will boost basketball.”
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