Walking soccer is a new sport derived from the round witch, but its motto is security and safety first, and its simple rules and ease of practice encourage all age groups to practice it.
The Qatari capital, Doha, was the gateway to the launch of the game to Arab and Asian countries, after 3 years of its spread on the European level, especially Britain, the cradle of the game and the location of its International Federation headquarters.
The head of the Qatari and Asian Football Associations for Walking, Farhan Al-Sheikh Al-Sayed, told Al-Jazeera Net that the game is witnessing a great spread in Britain, and the number of teams in it has reached 1200, and that he takes it upon himself to publish it in Qatar and Asia, in which the first continental tournament is scheduled to be organized next year in Indonesia.
AFC President Farhan Al-Sheikh Al-Sayed (Al-Jazeera)
He added that he has succeeded in spreading the game satisfactorily in Qatar, and is awaiting the approval of the Qatar Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Health to launch the first tournament for the new game in Asia and the Arab world.
The Sheikh pointed out that the game is witnessing a great turnout from the communities in Doha, due to the ease of its practice by all ages, as it targets the age group over 40 years, and that it is forming special teams for young people who liked the game from 25 to 40 years.
The first gathering of gamers in Qatar (Al Jazeera)
Last week, Aspire Stadium in Doha witnessed the official announcement of the Moroccan community walking soccer team, as the first Arab team for the game, in a sports event attended by Mustafa Halout, Deputy Ambassador of the Kingdom of Morocco to Qatar, who confirmed that this game will provide more opportunities for different groups of society to practice sports Especially when she is no longer old enough to play regular football.
Halout (right) receives a certificate of appreciation from Farhan Al-Sheikh Al-Sayed, next to him, the inventor of the game (Al-Jazeera)
The announcement of the Moroccan team included an exhibition match between it and the Doha team for the game, which ended with the Moroccan team winning 8-2, and witnessed the exchange of certificates of gratitude and appreciation between the League and the AFC.
The game's inventor, Drake Simis, tells Al Jazeera Net that he was inspired by football.
With the aim of attracting practitioners from the age of 40 and 50 and over, through the special rules that he set, which are based on the principle of safety and security first, and not to make a high effort such as running, jumping or slipping on the ground.
He adds that the rules of walking football prohibit running at all, and it is also forbidden to raise the ball above the level of the knees, but in both cases a violation is counted against the team that commits it, as well as not allowing contact or even contact with the opponent, as it is prohibited to touch the ball more than 3 consecutive touches Before the single player, there is no offside, as it is practiced on a small court just 35 meters long and 17 meters wide.