DOHA: The world’s top sport talent spotters gathered in Doha yesterday as part of a two-day conference held at Aspire Academy to explore the most effective methods of identifying the next Usain Bolt or Lionel Messi. Featuring internationally respected sports researchers as speakers, the Aspire Talent Identification (TID) Conference has shone a light on the most effective techniques of uncovering the athletic champions of tomorrow. In recent years, the focus on sport talent spotting has become a priority for many nations, with specialist programs set up around the world to identify potential athletes from an early age. In Qatar, the host nation of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, most of the country’s talented youngsters in football and other sports are spotted and developed through the acclaimed Aspire Academy Talent Identification Program. As part of this nationwide initiative, Aspire scouts are sent out to 47 schools across Qatar each year, and screen more than 3,000 Qatari children in an attempt to seek out the very best local athletes. Speaking at the TID Conference, Anthony Hazeldine, senior Talent Identification Officer of Aspire Academy’s Talent Identification Program, said: “I believe the TID conference has provided Aspire Academy with the perfect opportunity in which to showcase our Talent Identification Program to the world. In addition to this, we have highlighted the huge progress we have made in Qatar in recent years, in identifying our future sporting champions.” “We are hopeful that Aspire can learn much from these internationally-respected experts and researchers about the methods and models applied in different countries,” he added. Amongst the guests and speakers at the conference are talent identification experts from the USA, the UK, Australia and Asia.