Qatar gets moving for National Sport Day 2026 today
Celebrating Qatar’s commitment to fitness, unity, and well-being, the country marks National Sport Day Tuesday under the theme ‘I Chose Sport’, with a vibrant lineup of activities energising communities across the nation.From ministries and major institutions to private companies, thousands of residents and families are set to take part in a full day of sporting events that highlight the importance of an active lifestyle for all.Since 2012, the second Tuesday of February is marked annually as the National Sport Day, encouraging everyone to participate in sporting activities. The major purpose of observing such a day is to promote sports and to educate the local population on ways to reduce health risks associated with an inactive lifestyle.This year’s activities are being held at major and iconic locations across the country such as Aspire Zone, Education City of Qatar Foundation, Qatar University, FIFA World Cup stadiums, University of Doha for Science and Technology, Lusail, Al Bidda, Katara Cultural Village, Old Doha Port, The Pearl, Msheireb among others. Activities at most venues will begin from early morning and will last through the afternoon.High profile participation is expected at several venues of the events including ministers and several other dignitaries. It will also see thousands of community members engaging in many sports items making it a day to be emulated all through the year and beyond. Activities range from football to basketball, tennis to taekwondo, cycling to swimming with lot of fun and social competitions.The Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with Lekhwiya, Media City Qatar and Visit Qatar, will hold the activities at Stadium 974. The event will feature 13 dedicated zones and at the event, Media City Qatar will showcase its ‘Esports Village’ and will launch a new mobile game, Khawi at its dedicated zone.Qatar Foundation’s National Sport Day activities will bring the whole community together to explore Education City’s world-class sport programmes, venues, and facilities. Education City Stadium will serve as the hub for women’s and girls’ sport, offering a wide range of female only activities in a welcoming and inclusive environment.The major attractions at QF Sport Day celebration are: Education City Run-Colour Edition’, Education City Mountain Bike Trail Race, Qatar Cyclists Tour among others. All the events will take place from 7am-3pm and the senior leadership of QF will lead the day’s proceedings. In addition, it will be a car-free day at the Education City encouraging everyone to engage in physical activities.At Aspire Zone several leading organisations will take part in the activities and they include the Ministry of Public Health, Ministry of Sports and Youth, Ministry of Transport, Hamad Medical Corporation and Primary Health Care Corporation among others.The day is also viewed as an opportunity to bring communities closer together through sport, based on the sporting principles of team building, inclusion and unity, participation, fitness and health.Along with the extensive sporting events across the country, National Sport Day also focuses on Qatari culture acting as a reminder of Qatar’s ancient sporting heritage and the role it has played in the country’s most recent developments.