Aspire Zone Foundation announces first International Kite Festival

Aspire’s inaugural International Kite Festival, which will celebrate the art of kite flying through a unique combination of sporting competitions and fun community engagement events, is coming to Doha this week.

Taking place at Aspire Park from Tuesday, April 25 to Saturday, April 29 and organised by Aspire Zone Foundation, the event is also sponsored by Katara Cultural Village, Qatar Airways, Ooredoo, Nikon and Kiddy Zone.The Festival will see over 50 kite flyers from 13 international teams compete in kite flying agility for what promises to be a colourful and beautiful showcase. Teams from Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Italy, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, UK, U.S. and Vietnam will travel to Qatar for this momentous occasion.

The festival will pay homage to the art of kite flying, offering spectators a chance to witness some of the best international kite flyers in action, and the opportunity to practice their own skills through a series of creative and skills-based workshops. The diverse and exciting public programme running alongside the official competition offers something for everyone, for visitors of all ages and fun for the entire family. The innovative programme incorporates kite making and flying workshops, arts and crafts, a wind garden and stilt walking entertainers, as well as delicious food and beverage options. 

The Festival organiser has designed a dedicated schools programme to introduce children to the sport of kite flying through a friendly inter-school competition, with teams of 10 vying for a range of cash prizes – 30k QAR for 1^st place, 20k QAR for second and 10k QAR for 3^rd place. In addition, a number of child-friendly activities are being organised throughout the week.

There are also creative competitions that will encourage visitors to capture the spirit of the Festival in a photo contest, tagging #AspireKitePhoto for a chance to win amazing prizes including two Business Class round-trips tickets for 1^st place, two Economy tickets to any destination on Qatar Airways for 2^nd  place and Nikon cameras for 3^rd and 4^th place. A poster competition for children will also seek out the best illustration of a kite in the skies above Aspire Park posted to @aspirezone on Instagram for a chance to win giveaways from Kiddy Zone.

Mr. Mohamed Al Suwaidi, CEO, Aspire Zone Foundation, said: “We are extremely excited to host this unique event in Qatar, a first for Aspire Zone Foundation. Hosting an event of this nature is further evidence of Aspire Zone Foundation’s commitment to deliver a wide range of activities, offering something for the everyone and encouraging community participation. It also highlights Qatar’s growing profile as a destination of choice for tourists and visitors.”

Mrs. Kholoud Al Hail, CEO of Aspire Katara Hospitality & Head of the Event’s Organising Committee said: “Kite flying is not only a sport that requires precision, agility and patience, it is a fun activity that is an ideal platform to bring people together from all nationalities, backgrounds and cultures. To celebrate the occasion, there will be something for everyone at Aspire’s first International Kite Festival, from competitors, to schools and families. We are expecting crowds of excited spectators, many of whom will participate in the fun with their own kite flying adventures and soak up the atmosphere.”

Mr Ivan Bravo, Director General of Aspire Academy said: "Kite flying is enormously popular around the world. So we're delighted to bring this unique competition and event to Aspire Park this week. We hope to see families and children of all ages from across Qatar enjoy the rich and varied programme we've developed, and try as many of the fantastic activities on offer as possible. Aspire’s 1st International Kite Festival promises to be an unforgettable spectacle, with kites of all shapes and sizes soaring through Qatar’s skies.”

The event is free to attend and all are welcome to watch the competitions and take part in unique family activities and workshops. Aspire’s first International Kite Festival is set to become an annual event, further demonstrating Qatar’s capabilities and expertise in hosting major international sports and cultural events. For more information and for a full timetable of activities, please visit: www.aspirezone.qa.