Shooting to Win: McDonald’s Qatar Brings Home Basketball Trophy

Our team has done it again—we have come out on top, emerging as winners within the very popular and talented quick service restaurant (QSR) industry in Qatar!

This time, though, there is a twist to our win.

We weren’t competing with Qatar’s popular QSRs for the yummiest food, community accolades, or even prime location. This time, 12 players from our homegrown McFamily basketball team were facing off against Qatar’s food-and-beverage outlets – such as Americana KFC, Nando’s, Jollibee, Black Café, Black Stone Café, etc. – in the Pinoy Basketball of Qatar (PIBAQ) Basketball Tournament 2022. Partnered with Qatar Basketball Federation, this tournament takes place 2-3 times every year.?

After playing 10 exciting games, the McDonald's Qatar basketball team was named the PIBAQ Champion of the Food & Beverages Basketball Qatar League for 2022. And we are all incredibly proud of our star team members for following their passions outside their work life.

Informed by feedback from crew and managers, we will always continue to provide resources, programs, and best practices from which our employees can benefit during and beyond work – from meaningful learning and development opportunities, to recognition and rewards offerings that celebrate their hard work.

Read the reactions of our team members below!

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Nishad Jayasinghe – Operations Consultant and Team Manager

How do sporting events help McDonald’s Qatar employees improve??

It’s not just anecdotal – studies indeed show that organizations that focus on improving their employee experience enjoy higher productivity, profitability, as well as a lower turnover. Our people-centric events help McDonald’s Qatar employees in endless ways—they strengthen their team bonding, problem-solving, and planning skills, as well as improve their work-life balance. The commitment to the McDonald’s Qatar Basketball Team, in particular, has positive effects on promoting a healthy body, a sense of accomplishment, as well as camaraderie that transcends into the kitchen.

What are the criteria based upon which employees are picked for McDonald’s sports teams/tournaments?

Every sport has its criteria—for basketball, it is very simple: we mainly look for employees that have prior experience playing basketball, and who also meet a specific height requirement to qualify for our McDonald’s Qatar team. That’s it!?

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Gabriel Aragdon – McCafé Barista and Basketball Team Leader

How did your team achieve success during the Food and Beverages Basketball Qatar League - Basketball Tournament 2022? What were the major factors allowing you to win this tournament?

Basketball is a very strategic game. The McDonald’s Qatar team ran sophisticated defenses while setting up and running multiple offensive plays. We constantly studied the game, adjusted when needed throughout the tournament, and made sure we had the right lineup with the right skills to outsmart the very capable opposing teams.?

The support we received from our McFamily, our families, and friends, who turned up to watch, made every one of us even more dedicated and set on bringing home the trophy.?

How do you find the time to train for basketball in addition to fulfilling your McDonald’s Qatar duties??

The key is lovin’ what we do! There is no doubt that McDonald’s Qatar is creating the perfect balance between work and life, which gives us enough free time to practice our craft. In this case, it’s shooting hoops. While it admittedly does get difficult during important stages, like when leading up to a tournament, with enough dedication and love, we make it happen.??

What impact does your extra-curricular participation (irrespective of winning or losing) have on your team’s work performance and camaraderie within McDonald’s Qatar when you’re back at work??

For me, engaging in extracurricular activities gives me a sense of pride. I know that I am not only here contributing to McDonald’s Qatar as a barista, but I also get the opportunity to explore other hobbies as part of the McFamily, with McDonald’s Qatar’s full support.?

Winning tournaments and bringing back trophies raises our team morale and motivates us to be the best athletes outside of work in addition to the best employees at work.?