Doha: The Guinness World Record for the largest ever 5-a-side football match was broken at Aspire Zone on National Sport Day. The highly anticipated match was organised by Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell, and officiated by Guinness World Records. The match which ran continuously for 11 hours, 58 minutes and 12 seconds was played by a total of 523 participants from all over Qatar. The event was attended by His Excellency Dr. Mohammed bin Saleh Al-Sada, Minister of Energy and Industry, who came on to play as one of the record breaking players surpassing the 464 player mark that was set by BBC Radio 5 Live, at the Sheffield United Academy, UK on 13 October 2012. Other record breakers included WaelSawan, Managing Director and Chairman of Qatar Shell Companies, Sheikh Thani Al Thani, Deputy General Manager, Qatar Shell and Hamad Al Kuwari, Head of Marketing & Commercial, QFA. The Guinness World Record attempt was part of the QFAand Qatar Shell initiative KOORA TIME, a five-year sustainable initiative which is designed to improve the health and wellbeing of Qatar’s youth through football. Shortly after breaking the record, Sheikh Thani Al Thani, Deputy General Manager, Qatar Shell and Hamad Al Kuwari, Head of Marketing & Commercial, QFA, were presented with the ‘Official Winners’ certificate from Guinness World Records representative Kirsty Bennett who had flown in to oversee the attempt. Hamad Al Kuwari, Head of Marketing & Commercial, QFA said, “We knew we were aiming high – but we did it. I am excited to see that we have managed to kick off a driven and passionate football movement we envisioned would be characteristic of the KOORA TIME initiative. We look forward to having a positive impact on the health and wellbeing of Qatar’s youth through many more events like this.” “This event demonstrated our commitment to the Qatar National Vision 2030 and Qatar’s National Development Strategy 2011-2016 and we’re especially thrilled to see Qatar’s youth take full advantage and celebrate the occasion. It is these 523 participants who have placed Qatar in the Guinness World Record books and made this record-breaking match a source of national pride for all of us,” Sheikh Thani Al Thani, Deputy General Manager, Qatar Shell, added. The largest ever 5-a-side football match was held amongst other activities organised for National Sport Day across three main venues in Qatar – The Corniche, Aspire Zone, and Katara.

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