Pedal power

In an event attended by hundreds of people, the sportsmen and officials joined forces to pedal 50 stationary bikes for just over half an hour – generating enough electricity to bring the Torch to life.

The ‘Torch-lighting’ acted as the opening event for AZF’s celebrations for National Sport Day today and aimed to demonstrate the power of sport to electricity and energise individuals.

Participants included Qatar’s Minister of Culture, Arts and Heritage, HE Dr Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Kuwari and Kahramaa president Issa Hilal al-Kuwari.

The CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation, Khalid Abdullah Al Sulaiteen, also participated alongside other officials and athletes from the Qatar Stars League – including senior members of the national Qatari football team.

HE Dr al-Kuwari said starting the National Sport Day celebration with the lighting of the Torch Hotel was a very creative and unique idea. “I believe it sends the public a message that the real value of sports lies in its ability to light up many things in the life of people – not just the Torch Hotel.”

During the ‘Torch Lighting’ event,  the AZF CEO Khalid al-Sulaiteen praised Qatar’s leadership for its visionary idea to dedicate a national holiday to sport for the benefit of the entire community.

“For Qatar’s leadership to decree a public holiday dedicated to sports is testament to this nation’s visionary goals as Qatar’s National Sport Day is truly a unique and unprecedented idea, making us one of the only countries in the world to do this.”

With recent figures showing that more and more Qataris are beginning to take up cycling as a sport, the event was also a celebration of the activities’ growing popularity.

AZF’ National Sport Day organising committee head Dr Mohamed Ghaith al-Kuwari observed that cycling is one of the most important sports for physical health.

“At Aspire Zone Foundation we are seeking to promote this sport through new activities and events such as the Torch Hotel lighting as we look to integrate cycling as an integral element in Qatari culture.”

Aspire’s theme for this year’s National Sport Day extravaganza is ‘Family into Sports’ and will bring the whole family together through 14 fun and action-packed activities across the Aspire Zone. In the spirit of healthy living and committing to positive lifestyle changes, families can come together in a Family Boot Camp fitness session consisting of a series of structured exercises.

For the more competitive family members, Aspire Logistics has organised a fun run that will begin at 9am. There will be various taster sessions including gymnastics, racket sports and aerobic sessions.

Aspetar’s Healthy Living Department will also host a 5,000 Step Journey, inviting families to experience its ‘Step into Health’ programme through a friendly family-orientated circuit that includes 12 interactive stations to educate children and their parents on healthy eating.

In continued efforts to unite the whole community on National Sport Day, Aspire is also hosting more than 20 private and governmental organisations including Ras Gas, Qatar Shell, Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the Qatar Football Association, who will all hold various sporting activities of their own.

Aspire is running two competitions with gift vouchers and an iPhone 5s, iPod and iPad up for grabs. For more information on how to win search #QNSD_Aspire on social media or follow @Aspirezone on twitter or @AspirezoneQA on Instagram.

Last year, Aspire’s National Sport Day celebrations saw a footfall of more than 25,000 Qatar residents.