Sunday, January 28, 2018

Green wall at Olive International School #Qatar #Doha

Wednesday, January 24, 2018

Qatar welcomes the world with new campaign on CNN International

Qatar welcomes the world with new campaign on CNN International



Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA) has launched a new brand campaign with CNN International Commercial which is set to capitalise on the country’s accessibility as over 80 nationalities can now enter the country without a visa.

Create, CNN International Commercial’s in-house branded content studio, has produced an animated TV commercial which is being broadcast on CNN International. Each scene features something wonderful about Qatar, highlighting the country’s rich cultural heritage, unique locations and adventures. Bespoke versions of the animation also run as a 15-second pre-roll video ahead of sponsored digital editorial content.

QTA is also sponsoring Destination: Qatar, a special section of CNN Travel, featuring image galleries, videos and articles showcasing all the unique offerings that make Qatar a memorable holiday location.

Rani Raad, President, CNN International Commercial: “We are pleased to partner with Qatar Tourism as part of our extensive work within the travel and tourism sector. Adding Qatar to our Tourism portfolio is testament to CNN’s ability to create first-rate content that reaches diverse, global audiences.”

Rashed AlQurese, Chief Marketing & Promotion Officer, QTA: “Qatar Welcomes the World is the country’s largest destination promotion campaign yet and comes as part of our efforts to diversify Qatar’s visitor source markets. We are particularly excited to be partnering with CNN International, where viewers from across the globe can catch a glimpse of the authentic experiences that await them in their second home, Qatar.”

Saturday, January 20, 2018

Leaders unite at Securing Sport 2018 and call for new approach to safeguard sport


Leaders unite at Securing Sport 2018 and call for new approach to safeguard sport

  • Securing Sport 2018 co-hosted by U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and The McCain Institute with the support of Qatar Chamber
  • Top experts highlight urgent need for multi-sector collaboration to combat growing security and integrity challenges in sport
Washington D.C., USA; 20 January 2018: Leaders and international experts from the field of sport safety, security and integrity gathered at Securing Sport 2018 in Washington D.C this week to highlight the importance of a united approach to protecting sport as well as the urgent need to establish strong multi-sector partnerships to combat the emerging threats in sport safety, security and integrity.
Under the theme of ‘The Business of Protecting the Future of Sport’, Securing Sport 2018 brought together executives and experts from around the world to address key security and integrity issues facing sport and to explore business opportunities associated with major event security, sport governance and integrity and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
Organised by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS) and The McCain Institute and with the support of the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Securing Sport 2018 featured speakers and panellists from a range of international organisations including the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA), the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Center for SafeSport, World Bank, Sport Radar USA and the NFL Players’ Association.
Speaking at the opening, Mohammed Hanzab, ICSS Chairman, said:“Sport is an unparalleled economic, social, and cultural force. Yet, it is under attack like never before.
“When I established the ICSS nearly eight years ago, I envisaged a world where sport is free from corruption and where stadia and major events were safe and secure for all.
“Through the ICSS and forums like Securing Sport 2018, which gather top international experts from all sectors and corners of the world, I am passionate about making this vision a reality however, if we are to achieve this, it is urgent that we stand together, collaborate and bring together different sectors and expertise to confront the growing threats facing the security and integrity of sport.”
U.S. Chamber President and CEO Thomas J. Donohue added: “Sport is important to a nation’s culture, identity, and often, its economy. To maintain a vibrant sports industry, we have to answer some big questions. Most critically, we must seek ways to ensure the safety and security of fans, athletes, and employees at sporting events. Because for many, sport is not just a pastime, it’s a passion that they should be able to safely enjoy. Thank you to the ICSS and the McCain Institute for their partnership in bringing together today’s special event. Let’s continue working together to grow and strengthen this vital industry.”
Under the overall conference theme, representatives from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy also attended the event and provided an update on the latest progress and developments on stadia and infrastructure currently being built for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as well as safety and security measures being put in place for the tournament.
H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, said: “The safety of everyone attending or participating in the 2022 FIFA World Cup is our top priority. We’re determined to not only deliver the greatest, but also the safest and most secure FIFA World Cup ever and to leave a lasting positive legacy for the region.
“Qatar is already one of the safest countries in the world, making it a popular tourist destination. However, with almost 1.7m fans due in 2022, our Security Committee, headed by H.E. the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, H.E. Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani, has left no stone unturned in finding and eliminating potential threats.
“From the numerous cooperation agreements put in place with international institutions, including INTERPOL and the ICSS, to enhance the effectiveness of our security initiatives, to the regular observation programmes we conduct to other mega-events, safety and security will remain of the utmost importance to the SC to ensure the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar is as enjoyable and exciting as it is safe in five years’ time.”
Al Mannai: Qatar Chamber supports ICSS to achieve sports integrity.
As part of Qatar Chamber’s support for the event, QC’s Board Member Adel Al Mannai attended on behalf of the chairman HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani and expressed the Chamber's thank to the ICSS, the US Chamber and the McCain Institute for hosting a very vital event that sought mechanisms of protecting and securing sports worldwide.
He affirmed the Chamber's commitment to supporting events adopted by the ICSS which made great efforts since its establishment 9 years ago, as well as praising the session’s contents, noting they touched key issues in the field of securing sports.
Experts and sports stars highlight technology and integrity issues in sport
In one of the opening sessions of the day, entitled ‘How Technology and Innovation Provide Safety and Security’, Shaun McCarthy (CEO, ICSS Enterprise) led a panel of technology experts to discuss the role of technology in sport and how it can play a key role in protecting major sport events.
During the panel, experts discussed the important relationship between people and technology as well as how greater trust is needed in the new and developing technologies now available to governments and other host cities and nations in securing major sport events.
Later in the day, Emanuel Medeiros (CEO, ICSS INSIGHT) moderated the ‘Safeguarding the Integrity of Sport’ panel featuring senior figures from USADA, SportRadar USA, NFL Players’ Association and the World Bank. Panellists debated the impact of legalised sport betting in the United States, as well as the need to educate more athletes about the dangers of doping and match-fixing, including through the use of mobile platforms and applications like the ICSS’s Trusted Athlete app that is currently under development.
Securing Sport 2018 also included a number of highly emotive panels and speeches from high-profile sport stars, international experts and senior figures from US government and other sectors of civil society throughout the day.
Speaking on the ‘Protecting Our Youth in Sport’ panel, moderated by Michael Hershman (Group CEO, ICSS), Shellie Pfohl (CEO, U.S. Center for SafeSport) passionately shared her insight’s about the role her organisation plays in protecting young athletes in the United States and encouraged more efforts at a regional and international level to help educate parents and athletes about best practice in safeguarding young athletes, as well as how to identify and prevent cases of abuse in sport.
In addition, Dikembe Mutombo (NBA legend and President of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation) also spoke about his experiences growing up as young athlete in Congo and arriving in the United States. He was joined by Mary Harvey (U.S. Department of State Sports Envoy, Former U.S. Women’s National Team goalkeeper and Special Advisor - Sustainability at United Bid 2026), who spoke about how human rights is playing an increasingly important and central role in major events and within the governance of sport.
Mohammed Hanzab, ICSS Chairman concluded: “At a time where much of the focus is on the financial growth and commercialisation of sport, Securing Sport 2018 has provided an important and unique platform for leaders and top international experts to come together to identify real solutions to protect and safeguard sport.
“On behalf of the ICSS, I would like to extend my deepest thanks to the U.S. Chamber and the McCain Institute for co-hosting Securing Sport 2018 and to our friends and partners at the Qatar Chamber for their support of the ICSS and Save the Dream and helping to bring together some of the world’s top executives and businessmen together for this forum.”
For more info about the ICSS and its various products and services in the sport safety, security and integrity, please visit www.theicss.org.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

K.A.S. Eupen concludes training camp at Aspire Academy

K.A.S. Eupen concludes training camp at Aspire Academy

  • Coach Claude Makélélé and Aspire Academy’s coaches meet to discuss coaching methodologies on the last day of K.A.S. Eupen’s training camp

Belgian Pro League side, K.A.S. Eupen, which is owned by Aspire Zone Foundation, has successfully concluded its fourth successive winter training camp at Aspire Academy on Monday. The training camp, which took place during the players’ winter break from professional league matches, was organised to prepare the team for the second half of the 2017-2018 season, which resumes next Saturday, 20th January.

On the last day of the training camp, Aspire Academy hosted a joint session between the Academy football coaches and K.A.S. Eupen’s Head Coach, Claude Makélélé, the former prolific Real Madrid and Chelsea midfielder, to discuss youth football development and training methodologies.

Speaking about the transition from player to coach, Makélélé said: “When you become coach and have responsibility towards your players, you need to start seeing things from a different perspective and adopt a new set of skills beyond the ones you had as a player.  What’s also important is that you keep learning from your experiences and from the players you manage.”

When dealing with the players, Makélélé advised: “Be honest and clear with your players about how you arrive at the decisions you make about them. In training, when you notice a player making a mistake, pause the session and give them some feedback, and if possible, demonstrate the skill and ask other players to join. It’s also important that you listen to the players’ thoughts and concerns.”

He added: “Whilst it’s important that you play together as a coherent team, each player has a unique set of skills and abilities and a good coach knows how to nurture and utilise them in the best way. It’s the coach’s job to teach his young players self-discipline and responsibility. That is why coaches should encourage players to put in extra hours in training to hone their skills and work on their weaknesses.”

With a squad of 24 players, K.A.S Eupen features a number of Aspire Academy graduates including Abdollah Ali Saei and Ahmed Homam Elamin. Their fellow Qatari teammates at the club-Akram Afif, Abdulrasheed Ibrahim, Youssef Aymam Farahatand and Assim Madibo-are currently on international duty with Qatar’s U-23 team at the U-23 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Championships in China. The young players have enjoyed a successful run at the championship so far, winning the first three matches against Uzbekistan, Oman and China.

Aspire Academy coaches used the opportunity to speak with Makélélé to check in on the progress of their former students. Makélélé shared: “It’s evident that Aspire Academy left its mark on all of these players and that is a testament to your [Aspire Academy’s coaches] capabilities. I’ve been teaching Assim Madibo to observe how his teammates play so that he can start anticipating other players’ movements on the field to help him make informed decisions during the game. Being able to do that will be key to any midfielder’s success.”

He continued: “Abdulkarim Hassan is a strong defender, but he often takes on an attacking position rather than a defensive one. I’m currently working with him on how to maintain balance between the two. For example, I draw lines on the pitch and I restrict him from going beyond those lines, so he’s not tempted to go out and start attacking up front. The ultimate goal is that he starts making better judgment on when best to use his attacking abilities, whilst remaining true to his main responsibility, which is to defend well.”

He concluded: “It’s obvious that Akram Afif has talent. Right now, I’m helping him hone his attacking skills and how to play better as a team to score more goals.”

Before they concluded their training camp, the Belgian squad held team building exercises in Aspire Academy’s School Green Area and played a friendly match against Chinese Super League’s Guangzhou Evergrande, who are also holding their mid-season training camp at the Academy. The match ended in a 2-0 win for the Belgian team.


Doha - Chocolate, Tea and Coffee Festival 2018

Wednesday, January 10, 2018

#Mo Farah kicks off #tokyo2020 preparations in #Qatar

Tuesday, January 9, 2018

Moscow welcomes visa-free entry for FIFA World Cup fans

FAN ID card was presented at the press conference in Las Vegas during the America’s worldwide exhibition IMEX. Inessa Grig, Head of tourist activities coordination office of Moscow Department of Sport and Tourism, shared information about preparing for the upcoming 2018 FIFA World Cup and presented the ID card. The spectator’s personalized card is mandatory for each ticket holder. FAN ID will let foreign tourists visa-free entry to Russia and free public transit during match days and free special trains circulating between the World Cup host cities.

“We can say that now Moscow is a capital of world football,” said Inessa Grig. “More then 152 000 people visited the FIFA Confederations Cup Russia 2017. We place importance on the visa-free project for foreign tourists. About 3,000 football fans from 80 visa-entry countries have already come to Russia with fan ID cards. Moscow is to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup next year and is making preparations to host more than one million of football fans. A new ID card scheme will allow football fans to enter the country without a visa during long period – from 10 days before and 10 days after the 2018 FIFA World Cup.”

Foreign tourists will be able to use FAN ID on special trains circulating between the World Cup host cities. It will allow take free rides on public transit when heading to and from the venues of the 2018 FIFA World Cup. The main function of Fan ID is to personalize themselves and provide safety and security arrangements. It will provide better security for all the spectators. If you lose the ID card, it will be restored at the FAN ID Registration Center right at the stadium. Foreign tourists can choose postal or email delivery. They can apply for FAN ID online at the official website fan-id.ru or in person, at the FAN ID Registration Center after receiving ticket confirmation or any special pass. It is possible to get free ride tickets on public transport on match days at the official website of the Transport Directorate of 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia: transport2018.com.

Football matches will take place at the Spartak Stadium and the Luzhniki Grand Sport Arena. 11 Russian cities is to host World Cup.

The general director of Global Russia DMC Fedor Vergus also spoke at the press conference. The company is responsible for hosting 2018 FIFA World Cup guests.

“We provide accommodation, transfer and tickets for football fans and guests. Moscow is the main city,” said Feodor Vergus. “For large groups it will be more comfortable to stay in Moscow during the matches. Fans and spectators will be able to visit other cities on match days and then return to Moscow.” The city has a lot of hotels to receive all fans. At the same time difficulties with accommodation may arise in other cities which will host the FIFA World Cup matches. So we recommend larger groups to return to Moscow just after football matches.

The classification of Moscow hotels is in progress. In October 1,183 certified hotels including hostels received stars. The average cost of accommodation at a three-star hotel is $72, at a five-star hotel – about $550 per day. The average cost of five-day tours for larger groups (40 tourists) is $610 for one person. Price includes accommodation at a four-star hotel, breakfast, tour guide services, six paths of excursions and one water-bus tour on the Moscow river.

The record tourists flow was registered in the Russian capital in 2016. 17.5 million people came to Moscow. During the New Year holiday, the city hosted almost 155 per cent more tourists than in 2010. The historical reenactment festival “Time and ages” and Russian Field (Russkoye Polye) Festival will take place in Moscow during 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Moscow has taken part in the America’s worldwide exhibition IMEX for the first time this year. It took place in Las Vegas and is known as a crucial event in business tourism. Russia was presented there by companies such as Tsar Voyages, Global Russia DMC and PCO, Russian Railways, MB Prestige, ABT — ACTE Russia.

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The Present Image Reflections on the meaning of the visual in contemporary digital habitats A talk by Dr. Paolo SH Favero

Culture Café
School of Media and Cultural Studies, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
cordially invites you to
The Present Image
Reflections on the meaning of the visual in contemporary digital habitats
A talk by Dr. Paolo SH Favero

4.30 pmMonday, January 15| Classroom 4, Main Campus, TISS

Abstract
The talk aims to present The Present Image: Visible Stories in a Digital Habitat, a recent book that explores the world of images in the contemporary, increasingly digitized, habitats of the world. Moving across a theoretical spectrum that brings visual and digital culture in touch with anthropology, political theory, phenomenology and art-history, and based on the author's practice-based involvement with images, the book argues against the idea of the digital as a revolution in the world of images. "Present images" are the result of a dialectic between the material and the immaterial, the manual and the mechanical, the visible and the audible, the old and the new. Offering an analysis containing simultaneously elements of timeliness and timelessness, the book addressed practices such as VR and 360 degrees, iDocs and action cameras in a dialogue with classical art, religious iconography, early photography and contemporary art. In the final chapter the book explores the significance of images and image-making in the context of dying, mourning and living. 

BioPaolo S. H. Favero is Associate Professor in Film Studies and Visual Culture at the University of Antwerp. A visual anthropologist, he has devoted his career to the study of visual culture in India. His core interest is the role of images (new and old) in human life. An outgoing member of the Executive Committee of the European Association of Social Anthropologists (EASA) and the vice-chair of the ECREA working group on Visual Cultures, Paolo is today the chair of the Master in Film Studies and Visual Culture at the University of Antwerp. He is the author of the book The Present Image: Visible Stories in a Digital Habitat (Palgrave Macmillan) and the director of the documentary film Flyoverdelhi that has been screened by Swedish and Italian national broadcasters.
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Qatar Airways and Qatar Airways Holidays Offer Incredible Travel Packages for 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia

A full range of travel packages available for next summer’s spectacular tournament, offering fans access to the match of their choice*                  Exclusive Qatar Airways Holidays travel packages include flights, hotels and official match tickets, giving football fans the ultimate FIFA World Cup™ experience
DOHA, Qatar – Qatar Airways and Qatar Airways Holidays, the leisure division of Qatar Airways Group, are now offering exclusive travel packages including flights, hotels and official match tickets to the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia,™ which takes place from 14 June to 15 July 2018.
With a range of travel packages available from Group matches to the Semi-Final and Final, football fans from around the world can now buy Qatar Airways Holidays travel packages online for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ by visiting the booking platform www.qrfootballpackages.com.
Qatar Airways Holidays are offering a range of travel package options designed to make the most sought-after sporting event of the year as accessible as possible. The booking platform, including online brochure, provides football enthusiasts with details of all travel packages, prices and inclusions so they can book their complete travel package seamlessly. Prices will vary depending on match ticket category, level of accommodation, and flight origin.
With packages for key group stage games and the final phases selling fast, Qatar Airways Holidays travel packages will be available for purchase on a first-come, first-served basis. To facilitate even more options for the event, Qatar Airways has recently boosted capacity to Russia and now offers direct daily flights to St. Petersburg as well as three services a day to the Russian capital, Moscow.
Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Marketing and Corporate Communications, Ms. Salam Al Shawa, said: “As the Official Airline of FIFA, Qatar Airways is delighted to offer travel packages for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™ to football enthusiasts around the world. We believe that sport brings people together, and we want to provide our passengers with the ultimate FIFA World Cup™ experience from the moment they start their journey with us.
“It is also exciting to announce these packages following the launch of our new direct flights to St. Petersburg, Russia, which began earlier this month. We now aim to connect more people to Russia through our expanding global network via our state-of-the-art Hamad International Airport.”
Qatar Airways recently launched flights to Russia’s cultural capital, St. Petersburg, on 19 December 2017, doubling the number of Russian routes operated by the five-star carrier. Qatar Airways now operates its daily St. Petersburg service with an Airbus A320 aircraft, which features 12 flatbed seats in Business Class and 120 seats in Economy Class. Travellers who book their match packages with Qatar Airways will also enjoy the airline’s award-winning in-flight entertainment system Oryx One.
Named the ‘Airline of the Year’ by the prestigious 2017 Skytrax World Airline Awards, Qatar Airways is preparing to launch scores of exciting new destinations in 2018, including Canberra, Australia; Penang, Malaysia; Thessaloniki, Greece and Cardiff, United Kingdom, to name a few.
Alongside 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, Qatar Airways is Official Airline Partner of FIFA, which includes 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia™, the FIFA Club World Cup™, the FIFA Women’s World Cup™ and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar™. Qatar Airways will have extensive marketing and branding rights at the next two FIFA World Cups, with an expected audience reach of billions of people per tournament.
* Subject to availability.  Terms and conditions apply.
Qatar Airways, the national carrier of the State of Qatar, is celebrating 20 years of Going Places Together with travellers across its more than 150 business and leisure destinations. The world’s fastest-growing airline will add a number of exciting new destinations to its growing network in 2017/18, including Canberra, Australia; Penang, Malaysia and Cardiff, UK and many more, flying passengers on board its modern fleet of more than 200 aircraft.
A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was recently named ‘Airline of the Year’ by the 2017 World Airline Awards, managed by international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. It was also named ‘World’s Best Business Class,’ ‘Best Airline in the Middle East,’ and ‘World’s Best First Class Airline Lounge.’
Qatar Airways is a member of the oneworld global alliance. The award-winning alliance was named the World’s Best Airline Alliance 2015 by Skytrax for the third year running. Qatar Airways was the first Gulf carrier to join global airline alliance, oneworld, enabling its passengers to benefit from more than 1,000 airports in more than 150 countries, with 14,250 daily departures.
Oryx One, Qatar Airways’ in-flight entertainment system offers passengers up to 4,000 entertainment options from the latest blockbuster movies, TV box sets, music, games and much more. Passengers flying on Qatar Airways flights served by its B787, A350, A380, A319 and select A320 and A330 aircraft can also stay in touch with their friends and family around the world by using the award-winning airline’s on-board Wi-Fi and GSM service.
Qatar Airways proudly supports a range of exciting international and local initiatives dedicated to enriching the global community that it serves. Qatar Airways, the official FIFA partner, is the official sponsor of many top-level sporting events, including the FIFA 2018 and 2022 World Cups, reflecting the values of sports as a means of bringing people together, something at the core of the airline’s own brand message – Going Places Together.
Qatar Airways Cargo, the world’s third largest international cargo carrier, serves more than 60 exclusive freighter destinations worldwide via its world-class Doha hub and also delivers freight to more than 150 key business and leisure destinations globally with more than 200 aircraft. The Qatar Airways Cargo fleet includes eight Airbus A330 freighters, 13 Boeing 777 freighters and two Boeing 747-8 freighters.
SOURCE:
Qatar Airways Group, Corporate Communications Department, Tel: +974 4022 2200

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Tourism Festival Seychelles 11th Eco-Friendly Marathon set for February 25

A tourism spectacular with a local flair, the Seychelles will once again be hosting the Eco-Friendly Marathon, which is held annually on the last Sunday of February. This is another event being organised in the region to help keep the destination visible.
The 11th edition of the Eco-Friendly Marathon is set for Sunday February 25, 2018. It is aiming to attract the participation of thousands of people, both locally and from abroad. The organisers are already foreseeing some 4,000 local and 500 international participants this year.
As is the case each year, the race will start at 7 a.m. at Beau Vallon, one of the most popular tourist areas in the north of Mahé. Participants will be walking, jogging and running various distances covering the northern and north-eastern districts, going down to Victoria and heading back the same way to finish the race at Beau Vallon.
To cater for a wide range of fitness level the Eco-Friendly Marathon allows participants to choose whether they want to complete 5km and 10 km races, the half- marathon (21 km) and marathon (42 km).
The deadline for registration is February 15, 2018. International participants can download registration forms from the official website of the Eco-Friendly Marathon www.seychelles-marathon.com. The completed registration forms should be emailed to the race committee at the National Sports Council at highlevelsports@seychelles.sc or ceonsc@seychelles.net.
Local participants are advised to register in person at the National Sports Council.
Registration fees to be charged are €60 for the marathon, €40 for half-marathon, €25 and €20 for the 10 km and 5 km races, respectively.
The Eco-Friendly Marathon was initiated in 2008 by Seychelles’ Honorary Consul General for South Korea, Dong Chang Jeong, who also heads the Seychelles tourist office there, as part of efforts to encourage the Seychellois population to exercise and stay healthy. The event is one that is also helping to promote Seychelles across the globe, especially among the more health-conscious travellers.
The marathon is both challenging and rewarding and it is more than a mere competition. While the participants have to endure some quite steep hills during the race, the visitors especially, also get to discover some of the island nation’s natural beauty and breath-taking coastal views.
The Eco-Friendly Marathon also helps to unify the Seychellois and visiting participants, and since it was launched in 2008, it has seen an increase in the number of participants from different countries.
Seychelles’ Eco-Friendly Marathon is recognized internationally through the Association of International Marathons and Distance Races (AIMS) label. This year it is being organized jointly by the National Sports Council, the Creative Industries and National Events Agency (CINEA) and the Seychelles Tourism Board (STB).
A wide range of prizes will be awarded to the top five category winners, and all participants who complete the race will also be awarded their official time certificate, a medal, and a t-shirt.
Winners of the half-marathon and marathon will receive their prizes during a ‘cultural night’ that will be held at the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay hotel, in the evening of Sunday February 25, 2018.
Source:- Seychelles Tourism Board

Football: The Absolute Smartest Way To Attend World Cup 2018 in Russia

As any real football fan knows, nothing beats actually being at a match, most especially a World Cup game. 
Being at the World Cup is being part of history, regardless of who we support.
The beautiful game puts on a global event every four years that brings the world to a standstill for over a month. Depending on where you are in the world, watching it in the middle of the night or trying to sneak watch it at work, nothing, absolutely nothing, comes close to actually being there watching the action live.
We wait four long years, anxious to see who qualifies, eager to see who doesn’t qualify, and then with fingers crossed to avoid tough groups that could send us home early, we wait for the group draws. 
FIFA’s World Cup is a very big deal in anyone’s language.
For the fortunate fans who actually get to go to a World Cup, it is a major trophy trip and must-see, must-do footballing experience.
Even if your team does not lift the trophy, just being there live is easily a once in a lifetime experience for any football enthusiast.
This year Russia is hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup, and the bun fight is on to snag match tickets. Especially for games in Moscow and St. Petersburg for the semi-finals and the final.
But I learned this week of a much easier, smarter way of attending the world’s mostsought-after sporting event. And it’s not paying through the nose for secondary market seats.
The five-star airline, Qatar Airways, an official partner of FIFA’s 2018 World Cup, has just announced a diverse range of really outstanding, all-inclusive packages, and they really are inclusive. Packages start from  $2945 USD and include flights, VIP transfers, hotels, visas, match tickets, and if you want to tour around while in Russia, some excellent, optional sightseeing tours. Not to mention it is seamless, easy planning and purchasing at the Qatar Airways’ Holiday website. You will completely avoid the scramble of sorting out flights, hotels, match tickets, and importantly, mucking about with visas on your own.
This really is one-stop, whip your credit card out and you’re done shopping, through one of the world’s top airlines. With access to tickets you probably cannot find anywhere else, including the coveted semi-finals and the final. For the nimble and the quick, it means crossing something major off their bucket lists.
These packages, which are able to be customized, were announced last week and are on sale through January 31, 2018, or until sold out.  I suspect ‘sold out’ will occur well before the end of the sales period, these ticket inclusive packages will go like proverbial hotcakes. So, don’t hang on if you want an official, inclusive World Cup travel package through an official partner of World Cup. All packages are completely authorized and sanctioned by FIFA.
Here’s the link to the booking platform, grab your 2018 World Cup seats before someone else does.  And go Three Lions, aka, England. But let’s face it, I’m not holding my breath, we have been doing that as a nation since 1966.
SOURCE: www.qrfootballpackages.com