A total of 8,000 participants on average burned over 200 calories each as a result of a wide range of activities that were part a high-tech football themed event launched by the Qatar Football Association (QFA) and Qatar Shell, a report said.

L'Batak, a unique, flexible version of a modern-day fitness center, was launched during the Emir Cup. It is designed to burn the highest total number of calories – as indicated by an automated, integrated system known as ‘Score Totem & Master’ Calorie Counter which was used to calculate scores and display total number of calories burned for each participant in Al Khor and Doha.

L’Batak toured key locations across Qatar including Al Khor, Khalifa Stadium and Jassim Bin Hamad Stadium.

It features a variety of games recreating cardio-based physical movements that would occur in a traditional gym environment, such as running, lunges, and squats, within a football themed space.

“L’Batak was truly successful in engaging the local community using football as a vehicle to transmit healthy habits,” said Ahmed Abdulaziz Al-Buainain, treasurer, QFA.

“As the numbers indicate, the L’Batak fan zones were met with great participation from youth all over Doha, including Al Khor and neighbouring Al Shamal.

“Together with Qatar Shell, we were able to once again facilitate access to more physical activity, as well as opportunities and spaces to play, through different football themed games, ultimately achieving the main goal of L’Batak and the Koora Time initiative, which is encouraging Qatar’s youth to be healthy and active while burning the maximum number of calories,” he added.

Wael Sawan, managing director and chairman of Qatar Shell Companies, said: “We are proud to continue rolling-out football related fitness opportunities under Koora Time to evoke real behavioural change, and help maintain a healthy and active lifestyle among Qatar’s youth.

“This initiative is designed to support the Qatar National Vision 2030 by providing children and young adults access to more football, while at the same time setting the foundation for a healthier youth, and a better future for this country.

“We hope that all our activities will have a measurable and positive social impact on the future generation of Qatar,” added Sawan.

Augmented reality activities at L’Batak Fan zones included freestyle kicks, goal scoring and a “dance dance revolution” style simulation game known as Taffanan – which has proven very popular as it allows participants to control a player on the screen as he performs tricks with a football.

The L’Batak venue at Khalifa International Stadium additionally served as a fan zone for the final match of the Emir Cup, of which Qatar Shell has been the Lead Partner for eight consecutive years, with over 4,000 fans watching the match on the giant screen.

L’Batak is part of the Koora Time initiative announced by the QFA and Qatar Shell earlier this year aimed at inspiring behavioural change towards health and fitness through football in line with Qatar’s National Development Strategy and Qatar National Vision 2030. – TradeArabia News Service