​Visiting the Aspire Academy after 13 years. This was the time and the place when the QNV 2030 Sports Project started. I have presented many times about my time in Doha at conferences and universities. Being finally back in Doha feels almost like coming home. Athletics was probably the first successful sports program of the Aspire Academy, winning a silver medal at World Youth Championships U18 in 2009 and a Gold Medal at the World Junior Championships U20 in 2020. It was interesting to follow some careers of students from the first 3 batched over the past decade. Among those are Ahamd Jaad who became a coach himself, Mutaz Barshim became a multiple World- and Olympicmedalwinner, Mohamad Saleh Adam a lawyer, and Omar Shamiyeh a successful entrepreneur.
Credits go to the staff of the Aspire Academy "start-up" of these days: Carlos Alberto Cavalheiro, GeraldLenting Andres Charadia, Dr. Adam Beard, Greg Bopf, Uwe Hakus, Matthew Robinson, Gregoire Millet, François Fourchet and many more ...
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Today I start the course "Soccer Markets: Case Studies". In the course we look at selected case studies on the topic of soccer markets. This will be clubs, federations or events.
A central case this year will certainly be the FIFA World Cup in Qatar one of the most discussed sporting events ever. We will have a critical look from a strategic and business perspective as well as from a ethical  point of view. Does Qatar's sports and diversification strategy pay back or has it maybe done more harm to the reputation of the country? A number of scientific research papers which have been published over the past decade will serve among media reports as a good basis for the discussions in the seminar.
​But we will also expect live interview guests with regards to the topic, who give us insight information about the development of the  sports market in Qatar and the Middle East.

Another topic will be the business case of developing woman's football. While most experts are looking in ever growing soccer market of China, many oversee opportunities in other asian countries. In a workshop format we will analyze markets, their stakeholders and special requirements when it come to develop woman sports in general and soccer in particular. 
This course will be also available on my online academy www-ralfiwan.academy