Qatari telecom operator Ooredoo has signed a deal with Ligue 1 champions Paris Saint-Germain football club, to develop the youth and community sport in the region.

Chairman Sheikh Abdullah Bin Mohammed Bin Saud Al Thani and Nasser Al-Khelaifi, president, Paris Saint-Germain, announced the partnership, which will run through to 2018.

As part of the agreement, Ooredoo and Paris Saint-Germain will launch a community coaching programme across the Middle East, North Africa, and Southeast Asia that will include football clinics for young people.

The coaching clinics will be designed to create opportunities, as the companies will bring qualified coaches and training programmes to a number of key markets, with a focus on outreach to underserved communities and supporting youth in these communities.

The Ooredoo logo will appear on the backs of Paris Saint-Germain team shirts and on the sleeves of their training kits, and at the team’s Parc des Princes Stadium on the pitch side LED system. The team’s training complex 'Camp des Loges' will also be renamed the 'Ooredoo Training Center,' said a statement.

Sheikh Abdullah said: “Football brings people together from all nations and all walks of life, and we have found a great sponsorship partner in Paris Saint-Germain. Through our talks with the club, we have come to know them as a team that is keen on bringing football to new markets, committed to developing communities and is passionately connected to their fans.”

The educational sessions provided during the coaching clinics will include information on proper nutrition, injury management, how to prepare for matches and will focus on encouraging young people to achieve their ambitions at key points in their lives.

Ooredoo’s customers will be able to access exclusive Paris Saint-Germain content. This will include behind-the-scenes footage on how players prepare and recover from a match, along with opportunities to see the team play live with free ticket giveaways. - TradeArabia News Service