By Joey Aguilar
Staff Reporter
The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) started its Fitness and Health Programme 2014 on the Corniche, attracting dozens of people who got the chance to have a free health check up. The activities on Friday will be staged in Aspire Park from 4pm to 8pm.
The two-day activity is part of QOC’s Qatar Active Campaign (QAC), launched to promote a healthier and active lifestyle.
“The goal of the campaign is not just for certain groups, but for men, women, youth, children, the elderly, Qataris and non-Qataris, and other nationalities. It is for everybody,” QOC’s deputy head of media Khaled al-Qahtani told Gulf Times.
He stressed that they want many residents to be more active physically, eat a balanced diet and live healthier lives.
People who took part in different activities went through various tests such as diabetes, blood pressure, aerobic fitness, body hand grip, flexibility, and body mass index (BMI).
Doctors and dieticians offer advice to participants after getting the results from a body composition analyser. They also give advice to diabetics on how to properly manage their condition.
“Whatever the doctor finds suitable for that person, it will be their advice based on the results they see on the form,” said Ahmad Mubarak, events and logistics coordinator at QOC.
Sri Lankan expatriate Aruna S J M lauded QOC’s campaign saying many people like him were able to check and monitor their health.
“Often times we are too busy with work and we don’t have time to go to the clinic or to the doctor to check our blood pressure, sugar, and other things,” he told Gulf Times.
At the end of the process, Aruna was told by the doctor to “move more” and exercise regularly to burn more fat. “My blood pressure is a bit high,” he added.
For Jasmine Mendoza, the Fitness and Health Programme is timely since she needed to check whether her physical workout is effective.
Since their family has a history of diabetes, she started participating in running events two months ago believing that exercise will help a lot to keep her healthy. Mendoza said she has registered for the Ooredoo run in January.
QOC also distributed BMI calculators, pedometres and a brochure to all the participants.
Besides clinics and a hospital, QOC also partnered with Weill Cornell University in Qatar which provided two new equipment for measuring heartbeat and other vital body functions.
In a press statement, QOC public relations and marketing director Mohammed Issa al-Fadala, also the QAC director, said such activity helps achieve their “Sport for All.”
“Every citizen and expatriate has the right to an active and productive life,” he noted.
The QAC initiative also aims to raise awareness on the important role of sport to produce a healthy generation, according to al-Fadala.
Another objective of the campaign is to offer a number of programmes that will serve the community and to launch health, environment and cultural initiatives within its mission.
Some of these activities will include Fun Day for women and girls, the World Walking Day, water games contest, the Rowing Race of traditional boats (Al Shawaheef) and the Olympic Day.
QOC also plans to organise football, basketball and volleyball tournaments.
