Tag Archives: football

Manchester City and global partner Etihad Airways are flying towards a better future for young people in India, with the announcement of a brand-new community football initiative in cities across the country. The joint initiative will see Manchester City work in collaboration with Etihad Airways, Club charity City in the Community and non-governmental partner organisation (NGO) Magic Bus India Foundation, to deliver health and life skills training for local young people through football. The project will launch this April in three cities from the airline’s network: New Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore, with more locations to follow. This marks the latest in a series of impactful community collaborations between Manchester City and Etihad since the launch of the Official Partnership between the two organisations in 2009, including global and regional summits in Manchester and Abu Dhabi, which upskill young leaders in community football coaching and leadership. The initiative will be delivered by local NGO Magic Bus India Foundation who have partnered with the club on various initiatives since 2016, including an Etihad supported programme in Kolkata, engaging 2,000 young people with health and hygiene education through football. To kick-start the impact, Etihad will fly coaches from City in the Community, the Club’s official charity, to India to deliver world-class football and leadership training to Young Leaders championing the projects. The trainees will then put their skills into practice, as part of their commitment to using football to uplift the health of young people in their cities. Tom Pitchon, Director of City Football Group’s global foundation, said: “We are proud to work with Etihad Airways to uplift the health and life skills of young people across India through the power of football. …

Emirates helped the iconic football club take to the skies in style and ‘fly better’ from Madrid to the Saudi capital on a specially planned charter flight, ahead of the Spanish Super Cup match. Onboard the special charter flight, Nacho Fernández, Eduardo Camavinga, Vini Jr., Luka Modric and other star players experienced bespoke inflight services to rest and recharge ahead of the match. A customized menu for the club featured creative culinary delights inspired by their trip. Specially branded touchpoints and meticulous attention to detail rounded off the inflight experience. The players were also spoilt for choice as they browsed their favourite shows, movies and music on Emirates’ ice inflight entertainment system. Emirates has been proudly supporting Real Madrid as its official partner since 2011, joining up fan experiences with the iconic club to reach its massive fanbase of over 500 million loyal followers around the world. The airline has helped connect Real Madrid on special flights for numerous tours, including sporting events staged in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The airline will continue as the Official Main Airline Partner of Real Madrid until 2026, making it the longest shirt sponsorship in the history of LaLiga.

The Sharjah Commerce and Tourism Development Authority (SCTDA) is organizing the first official football tournament in the region, which is witnessing competition between 140 players from more than 20 different nationalities compete for the title and total prize of USD $40,000. Footgolf is a hybrid sport that combines the rules and principles of golf with the skill and athleticism of soccer. It is played on a golf course, but instead of using clubs and balls, players kick a soccer ball towards a hole in the ground or a barrel. The objective is to complete each hole in the fewest number of kicks possible, and is a fun and exciting sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and skill levels. Commenting on the upcoming event, HE. Khalid Jasim Al Midfa, Chairman of the SCTDA said, “In the Emirate of Sharjah, the government is committed to organizing and hosting events that align with the overall development goals of the region, address the needs of the community, and promote healthy and enjoyable lifestyles through sports. This is in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Member of the Supreme Council and Ruler of Sharjah, who emphasizes the importance of improving individuals’ health and quality of life. The SCTDA is dedicated to implementing this vision in all of its initiatives, programs, and projects. One example of this is the recent Sharjah International Footgolf Tournament and Padel Tennis tournament, which were held in partnership with Air Arabia and the Sharjah Sports Council.” He added: “Through the tournament, the Emirate of Sharjah will host ex-football stars with their fan base and supporters, and bring together local …

With just over a month until the International football spectacle kicks off on 20 November, leading travel company Skyscanner shares a deep dive into the global appeal of Qatar highlighting: The top football nations travelling to Qatar in November and December The global increase in bookings to Qatar this year The halo effect and increase in bookings to UAE and Saudi Arabia this year Game plan to find the best travel deals on Skyscanner for those lucky enough to bag last-minute tickets The top football nations travelling to Qatar for the global football event* A deep dive into Skyscanner data reveals the UAE as the biggest origin country for football related bookings to Qatar for the duration of the football spectacle, followed by the UK and Japan.  Dubai, unveiled as the top city destination for travel to Qatar during the global event, reflects how local and international football fans are using the UAE as a travel hub en route to the event.  In fact, global bookings to the UAE during the international sporting event have increased steadily since the beginning of the year with bookings increasing in September by 114% compared to the previous month.   Top booking origin countries for travel to Qatar during this year’s sporting spectacle United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Japan South Korea Spain   Top booking origin cities for travel to Qatar during this year’s sporting spectacle Dubai London Tokyo Seoul Madrid   Qatar is rising in popularity in the global ranks** As result of the global event, Qatar is surging in popularity as a destination globally in 2022.  This is most notable for countries with teams taking part in the sporting spectacle with bookings …

Emirates Holidays has partnered up with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) to become the official tour operator for the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. The 17th edition of the continent’s prestigious football tournament will take place in the United Arab Emirates between January 5, 2019 and February 1, 2019.  Through the partnership, Emirates Holidays offers a broad range of excellent value packages to football fans traveling to Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai and Sharjah to support their teams. Each package includes match ticket(s), accommodation and return flights with Emirates Airline. Robin Parry, Vice President, Emirates Holidays, said, “We are thrilled to become the official tour operator of the AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019. Starting from today, supporters can seamlessly book match ticket, flight and accommodation with Emirates Holidays and enjoy the excellent travel experience our award-winning airline and reputable hotel partners offer. We see exciting opportunities for the company in sport tourism and continue to seek ways to accommodate the growing demand. We look forward to welcoming our football fan customers in the UAE.” Dato’ Windsor John, General Secretary, Asian Football Confederation, said, “Asian football continues to make giant strides on the world stage and the remarkable growth and stature of the AFC Asian Cup exemplifies the undeniable progress of football in the Continent. Emirates have been a long-standing partner of the AFC and we would like to thank them for their firm belief in the development and ever-improving proposition of Asian football.