“Buses will go around the country with sport equipment. They will stop at different public places and provide opportunities for people to practise different sports and games,” said HE al-Ali while talking to the media at Aspire Zone during the National Sport Day celebrations.
“Qatar has greatly promoted competitive sports and has benefited from it immensely. It is time for us to focus more on community sport so that more people will be able to practise sports and develop a healthy living culture,” explained the minister.
The minister also noted, “Members of the community in Qatar are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of sports and the advantage of regular exercise, as highlighted by a number of recent studies that we have conducted with Qatar University. Through initiatives such as National Sport Day, it is clear that Qatar is making good progress in promoting physical activity among all members of the community.”
Braving adverse weather conditions, large crowds were present at Aspire Zone to participate in several exciting events that were held at different stations of the venue. A number of prominent officials and dignitaries attended the events to show their support for the development of sports and sporting activity in the country.
Mohammad Khalifa al-Suwaidi, CEO, AZF, said, “The celebrations this year lived up to expectations thanks to the collective experience and expertise of Aspire Zone Foundation and its member organisations – Aspire Academy, Aspetar and Aspire Logistics. There were many highlights this year, including Aspire Academy’s Football Performance and Science activities, Aspetar’s Nordic Walk and 5,000 Step Journey, as well as several community programmes by Aspire Logistics.”
The morning activities kicked off with the annual ‘Fun Run’ event, where large numbers of people of all ages, including some of Qatar’s national Olympic athletes such as Abderrahman Samba, Mabrook Saleh, and Idris Mousa, took part. Visitors to Aspire Zone were very diverse with all sections of the community represented.
Qatari nationals participated in a range of activities alongside the country’s expat residents. Activities organised by AZF demonstrated how sport can bring people together across all backgrounds, nationalities and ages and build bridges of understanding between cultures.
Around Aspire Park, health and wellness experts offered advice and recommendations on leading a healthy lifestyle at education stations staffed by experts from the Namat physical activity and health education programme.
Elsewhere in Aspire Dome, activities included Beat the Champion, Multi-sport skill development and football performance and science. People of all ages and backgrounds took part in the events together, clearly enjoying the occasion. Large number of professionally trained coaches from Aspire Academy were on hand to offer encouragement to all those taking part and to cheer them on.
HE the Minister of Culture and Sports, Salah bin Ghanem al-Ali takes part in the activities at AZF along with senior AZF officials.
HE the Minister of Culture and Sports, Salah bin Ghanem al- Ali announced the launch of a new sport initiative to promote sport culture at the opening of the National Sport Day events at Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) Tuesday.
