ASPIRE4SPORT 2012: Connecting Business and Sport in the Middle East - NEW SPEAKER ANNOUNCEMENT ASPIRE4SPORT 2012, the

Middle Easts leading sports business congress and exhibition, is delighted to announce that Rafael Benitez, UEFA Champions League winning manager with Liverpool F.C., is confirmed to speak at the event. Benitez, who also managed Valencia in Spain and Internazionale in Italy, will be taking part in a special ASPIRE4SPORT Star Chat on 14th November with Grard Houllier, former football manager of the French national team and Liverpool F.C., and John Barnes, Liverpool F.C. and England legend. Rafael Benitez recently launched his book, Champions League Dreams, which chronicles his dramatic six UEFA Champions League campaigns as Liverpool F.C. manager.

About ASPIRE4SPORT 2012 ASPIRE4SPORT 2012 will attract some of the worlds top sports business experts to Doha, Qatar in November. Hosted in Qatars world class Aspire Dome from 12th to 15th November 2012, the third edition of ASPIRE4SPORT will welcome more than 3,000 delegates, including 500 sports industry leaders and 250 accredited media professionals. ASPIRE4SPORT 2012 is the only event of its kind in the region and provides a unique occasion for sports leading decision makers in the Middle East and around the world to connect, network and capitalise on real business opportunities. ASPIRE4SPORT 2012 is proud to have the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee as its Principal Sponsor. Senior officials from the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, as well as the Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Football Association, Qatar Stars League, Qatar Foundation and Katara will be available for individual pre-arranged networking opportunities. The confirmed star speakers, delegates and sports organisations at ASPIRE4SPORT 2012 so far include: Ral Gonzlez and Fernando Ruiz Hierro, Real Madrid and Spain legends, who will be taking part in a special Star Chat panel alongside Pedja Mijatovi, former Real Madrid Sporting Director; H.E. Sheikh Saoud Bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, General Secretary, Qatar Olympic Committee; H.E. Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Bin Ahmad Al-Thani, President, Qatar Football Association and President, Qatar Stars League; Grard Houllier, former football manager of the French national team and Liverpool F.C.; Hassan Al Thawadi, General Secretary, Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee;

Ian Ayre, Managing Director of Liverpool F.C.; Anthony Joshua, London 2012 Olympic Boxing Super Heavyweight Gold Medallist; Paris Saint-Germain and Liverpool F.C. youth academies will host a series of football clinics to help young players develop their skills. Former Liverpool F.C. star striker, Ian Rush, will be on hand to facilitate a number of these special clinics;

Additional leading figures from the world of international sport will be confirmed soon. For the latest ASPIRE4SPORT 2012 conference programme and the up-to-date list of speakers, please click below: www.aspire4sport.qa With its new slogan, Connecting Business & Sport, ASPIRE4SPORT 2012 will feature three unique conference programmes: Aspire Med: Featuring discussions on sports science and sports medicine [12th November]; Aspire Tech: A conference on technology and sport [13th November]; Aspire Build: Focused on infrastructure and stadium development [14th 15th November].

For international media enquiries, please contact John Zerafa [jzerafa@verocom.co.uk / +44 [0]7813 814 816] or Sujit Jasani [sjasani@verocom.co.uk / +44 [0]7940 375 282]. Connect and converse with ASPIRE4SPORT online: Facebook/Twitter: Aspire4Sport