Qatar Museums, Qatar Foundation, Qatar Football Association, Qatar Women’s Sports Committee, the Embassy of Qatar in the United States, the U.S. Embassy in Doha, the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, and the Ministry of Culture and Sports, Launch the Qatar- U.S. 2021 Year of Culture 

 

Members of the Washington Spirit Women’s Soccer Team played a friendly match with members of the Qatar Women’s National Soccer team on Tuesday, December 15th. The team’s visit, organized by the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the United States of America (USA), together with Qatar Museums and the U.S. Embassy in Doha, forms part of a cultural exchange that previews the “Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture.” The Year of Culture reflects a longstanding history of partnership and cultural engagement between Qatar and the United States. 

 

 

The Friendly Match, with members of the Qatar National Women’s Soccer Team, was sponsored by Qatar Airways and Exxon Mobil Qatar.  The “Year of Culture” will feature a year-long series of events in both countries where each will engage in a variety of cultural programming. Launched by Qatar Museums in 2012, “Year of Culture” together with a different partner country each year, highlights the richness of Qatari culture and history to an international audience, while simultaneously bringing the partner country’s diverse culture to Qatar. The “Year of Culture” is executed through various exhibitions, festivals, competitions, and events that increase mutual understanding and appreciation between the respective nations – inviting people to explore their historical similarities and differences.

 

Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Chairperson of Qatar Museums, said: "Qatar Museums is proud to kick off the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture by welcoming the Washington Spirit Women's Soccer team to Qatar. Their visit to Doha further affirms the longstanding ties between Qatar and the United States, and we look forward to sharing Qatar's rich culture and heritage with our American friends. We are also pleased to unveil the logo for the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture, which celebrates the strong relationship between both countries.”

 

“The Washington Spirit is not only a team at the top of its game, but an example to girls in Qatar and the U.S. of the explosive potential of empowered women,” said H.E. Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States of America. “They have so much to offer both on and off the field, and it is why I wanted to invite them to Qatar as the first Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture educational exchange group. With the 2022 World Cup in Qatar just around the corner, it is an honor to share Qatari cultural heritage and a first look of the exciting projects underway as we prepare to host an unforgettable tournament experience for global soccer fans.” 

 

Commenting on the visit by Washington Spirit, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Ambassador Greta C. Holtz stated, “We are delighted to welcome the Washington Spirit Soccer Team to Doha. This weeklong exchange demonstrates the United States and Qatar’s commitment to supporting and empowering women in sports.  The Year of Culture is an exciting celebration of U.S. and Qatari culture, and I look forward to more fantastic events that will highlight our shared values, increase cultural appreciation and understanding, and further develop the crucial strategic partnership between our two countries.”

 

During the Washington Spirit’s stay in Qatar, the team’s itinerary includes a number of activities:

 

 

A Tour of Qatar Foundation (QF) including a meet and greet with students from one of QF’s schools and the QF girls’ football team, and visits to Al Shaqab equine and equestrian center and Qatar National Library. 

A Tour of the Al Bayt Stadium 

A Friendly Match with members of the Qatar National Women’s Soccer Team 

The Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture Logo Reveal 

A Clinic with Generation Amazing Youth Advocates 

An Aspire Tour 

Tour of the National Museum of Qatar 

beIN Sports Tour 

Tour of Katara Cultural Village 

Supreme Committee Pavilion Tour 

Museum of Islamic Art Private Tour 

Soccer Clinic with Best Buddies 

Dinner with the President of the Qatar Football Association 

Dinner with Dana al-Fardan

Sand Duning at Sealine Beach Resort

Final Match for the Amir Cup 

Qatar National Day Celebration

 

Mrs. Machaille Hassan Al-Naimi, President of Community Development, Qatar Foundation, said: “Qatar Foundation is a longstanding supporter of Qatar Museums’ Years of Culture program, which has a pivotal and impactful role in building cross-cultural connections and strengthening bonds between Qatar and other nations.

 

“We strongly believe that sharing cultural knowledge and experiences creates new pathways of understanding on a global level. Qatar Foundation has close and valued ties with the U.S., including our long-established partnerships with some of the country’s leading universities, and we are delighted to have participated in the launch of the Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture by welcoming the Washington Spirit Women’s Soccer Team to experience our Education City ecosystem. We look forward to supporting this initiative further with a range of activities and programs in 2021.”

 

“We are delighted to be here and to be part of this event” said Steven Baldwin, Washington Spirit Owner. “Sports has a way of bringing people together and we are excited to be part of this cultural exchange. We thank the people of Qatar for warmly welcoming our team of fantastic female athletes to share their culture and the progress of the 2022 World Cup preparations with us.” 

 

Due to necessary precautions and COVID-19 restrictions, just 10 members of the media were invited to the Al Ersal training facility in Doha at 3:15pm on December 15th. The friendly match between the Washington Spirit and the Qatar National Women’s Team was followed by a soccer meet and greet with Generation Amazing Youth Advocates. 

 

During the event, the “Qatar-USA 2021 Year of Culture” logo, created by Sara Ahmed AlHelal was also unveiled. Sara is a third-year student at Virginia Commonwealth University School of the Arts in Qatar, a QF partner university, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree (BFA) in Graphic Design. Now an intern at Qatar Museums, Sara combined elements of Al Wahda Arches with the Statue of Liberty to create a concept that underscores the partnership of the two countries. She was joined by VCU Dean Amir Berbic and Graphic Arts Chair Astrid Kensinger.

 

Entertainment was provided by Dana al-Fardan. Maias Alyamani and members of the Qatar Philharmonic Orchestra, the United States Air Force Central Command Band, and Noor Abdelmajeed, a Junior at the American School of Doha.