Qatar is all set to mark the 12th edition of the National Sport Day (NSD) tomorrow. The first NSD was held in 2012, as stipulated by the Amiri Resolution No. (80) of 2011 which designated the second Tuesday of February each year as Sport Day, when everyone is encouraged to participate in sporting activities. NSD’s main purpose is to promote sport and educate the local population on ways to reduce health risks associated with an inactive lifestyle, such as coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Many government ministries and private sector companies organise hundreds of activities and events on the NSD for employees and the general public. The Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Olympic Committee (Team Qatar), Aspire Zone, and various other organisations play a prominent role at a number of events across Qatar. Activities range from football to basketball, tennis to taekwondo, cycling to swimming, with countless free sporting sessions and social competitions, available to all. The day is also viewed as an opportunity to bring communities closer together through sport, based on the principles of team building, inclusion and unity, participation, fitness and health.
The 2023 NSD has a special significance as it comes soon after the much acclaimed FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the complete lifting of restrictions imposed in recent years due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The fans, who visited Qatar during the World Cup, have seen the positive impact left by the Qatari leadership in organising the NSD over the past years by encouraging the practice of sport. The world has observed the great urbanisation of the Qatari society, which believes in the value of sport as a basic pillar for investing in the human element.
With each passing year, Qatar residents are getting access to more public parks which have walking/jogging/cycling tracks and fitness equipment in order to inspire everyone to engage in sport and thereby improve mental and physical well-being.
All state institutions organise special programmes for the NSD. This is done in co-ordination between sports institutions and the authorities concerned. The NSD Committee has been setting a specific agenda that includes various activities, as in the previous edition, which witnessed 575 various activities through the Qatar Sports for All Federation for all age groups. Chairman of the Organising Committee for the 12th NSD activities at the Aspire Zone Foundation, Sheikh Mohamed bin Fahad al-Thani said the goal is to promote a healthy lifestyle and build generations that enjoy mental and physical health.
Qatar Foundation (QF) has invited community members of all abilities and ages to join NSD celebrations at Education City, by announcing multiple activities. The ‘Try-a-Tri’ fun triathlon will be held for adult and children’s categories, with 100m swimming, followed by a 4km bike race, and ending with a 1.5km running race. Registration can be done on www.qf.org.qa/nsd-triathlon QF will be hosting women-only activities at the Education City stadium. Women can participate, by forming a team of two, to compete in a functional fitness challenge made up of burpees, squats, mountain climbers and others, and using equipment such as rowing machines and medicine balls, to reach the finish line as quickly as possible. Registration for this challenge is open on www.qf.org.qa/nsd-womenonly The Education City stadium will also witness an all-girls and all-women’s semi-final and final football matches between 9am-1pm. There will be special sporting activities hosted by the Qatar Paralympic Committee, in addition to QF’s Ability Friendly Programme, for individuals with different abilities. Games such as wheelchair basketball and goal ball can be enjoyed by members of the community. In line with QF’s dedication to promoting sustainability, Education City will be car-free on NSD. Visitors can park their vehicles in the Academy Car Park or Oxygen Park Parking, and use the Education City Tram to get around, or walk around Education City.