Qatar Olympic Commitee (QOC) Deputy Secretary General Meshael al-Khalifa cuts the ceremonial ribbon to formally open the Sports Village as QOC Director of Sports Affairs Khalil al-Jabir and other officials lend him a hand.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
The festivities around Qatar’s biggest ever National Sport Day have begun with the opening of the exciting Sports Village, near Doha’s main post office.
Qatar Olympic Commitee (QOC) Deputy Secretary General Meshael al-Khalifa, Director of Sports Affairs Khalil al-Jabir, up-and-coming athlete Mariam Farid, young boxers Abdelrahman al-Sinawi and Ahmed Abdelmajeed and last year’s BeFit programme winner Emad Asad attended the opening of the Village.
The Sports Village will be open from 3pm to 10pm daily from now through to the end of National Sport Day on the 10th of February, with over 13 National Federations offering free activities and entertainment for every age and fitness level.
Boasting an unrivalled schedule of free sporting events across the country, National Sport Day aims to give the people of Qatar an opportunity to kick start a future of healthy living with the Sports Village acting as a main hub in Doha. Ensuring the whole of Qatar can celebrate sport together in a festival atmosphere, the Village will allow everyone to see and learn basic skills in numerous fun-filled sports including handball, basketball, shooting, table-tennis and football while providing fun and games for all the family.
With Qatar hosting a multitude of sports events over the next several years, including the World Boxing Championship and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in October, the public will have the chance to come down, learn more about these sports and try them out. There will also be a focus on healthy eating and general wellness as this year’s winner of the BeFit Program is announced.
Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Head of Media at the QOC, said: “The celebrations for National Sport Day have officially begun and we are immensely excited. The Qatar Olympic Committee Sports Village is bigger and better than ever with entertainment and exciting sporting activities for everyone. Our aim is to introduce as many people as possible to a whole range of sports with demonstrations and skill sessions. This way we hope to get all of Qatar trying new sports, meeting new people and taking steps towards leading an active and healthy lifestyle.”
Boxer Abdelrahman al-Sinawi, said: “It has been amazing to come down the Sports Village today and to see all the sports that are on offer. I hope to be one of the best boxers in the world one day and I cannot wait to see the World Boxing Championships first-hand in Doha in October.
Athlete Mariam Farid, member of the Qatar National Athletics team, said:
“National Sport Day, and the QOC’s Sports Village in particular, is a great opportunity for women and girls to give sports a try. There could be some very talented girls out there who haven’t yet fulfilled their potential and this is their chance to discover new sports. Even if professional sports are not of interest to you, participating in sports regularly is a fun-filled way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and Qatar offers so many opportunities to do so all year round, not just on National Sport Day.”
Featuring the traditional Al Shawahef Rowing Championship and the legendary sport walk, as well as the biggest ever line up of free events, 2015 is set to be the largest and most widely celebrated day of sport ever witnessed in the country.
BELOW:
QOC media head Sheikh Hamad bin Abdulaziz al-Thani (2nd left), athlete Mariam Farid speak to the media at the Sports Village yesterday.