Generation Amazing launches first football pitch in India

Generation Amazing, the social legacy programme of the Qatar Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, has reached a significant milestone by launching its first football pitch in India. This marks the 27th following similar projects in Lebanon, Syria, Nepal, Pakistan and Jordan.

Located next to a school in Jamsher, Punjab State, the pitch will host Generation Amazing’s football for development programmes. It will also provide a safe and sustainable space to play to more than 20,000 young people.

“We are proud to inaugurate our first Generation Amazing football pitch in India, and to continue to make a positive impact on the lives of young people in Jamsher and the surrounding areas,” said Afraa Al Noaimi, Acting Executive Director of Generation Amazing.

“Our football for development programme has made significant strides since it was launched in India earlier this year across a number of locations and cities, and this pitch opening will provide a tangible social and human legacy to this area for future generations.

“We encourage all the young girls and boys in the area to join our programme and make the most of the opportunities to learn life skills and important sporting values through football.”

For 22 year-old youth ambassador Baljinder Kaur, the pitch in Jamsher represents an important opportunity to grow the football for development programmes she helps to implement.

“This pitch will give a chance to more young people – and especially girls – to play football,” said Kaur.

With the support of Generation Amazing, Kaur runs programmes for 95 children at a school in Jamsher. She says the scheme is helping to advocate gender equality among members of her community.

“I believe I was selected as a... youth ambassador to motivate and support young girls in my community. In the future, I want to continue helping children, while ensuring girls have equal opportunities,” said Kaur.

The new pitch has been developed in collaboration with local partner YFC Rurka Kalan – a community organisation that uses sport to mobilise large communities. The pitch will support the organisation’s various programmes, which have benefited more than 6,800 people so far this year.

Generation Amazing is currently present in five locations in India, as well as seven countries across the Middle East and Asia. The programme has benefitted more than 250,000 people since its launch in 2009, and aims to benefit a million people by 2022.

Generation Amazing is a partner of Beyond Sport United and this year’s category sponsor for the new Sport for Refugees Award at the Beyond Sport Global Awards.