A reflection of State’s investment in citizens’ health and lifestyle

Qatar is ready to mark the 12th edition of the National Sports Day (NSD) tomorrow. The first NSD was held in 2012, as stipulated in Amiri Resolution No. (80) of 2011, which declared the second Tuesday of February of each year as Sports Day, urging everyone to participate in sporting activities. The main purpose of NSD is to promote the sport and educate the local population on how to reduce the health risks associated with an inactive lifestyle, such as coronary artery disease and diabetes. Many private sector ministries and companies organize hundreds of activities and events for NSD staff and the general public. The Ministry of Health, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Olympic Committee (Team Qatar), Aspire Zone and various other organizations feature prominently in a number of events across Qatar. Activities range from football to basketball, tennis to taekwondo, cycling to swimming, with countless free sporting events and social competitions open to all. The day is also seen 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 NSD 2023 has special significance as it comes shortly after the much-vaunted FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the full lifting of the 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 the Qatari leadership has had in organizing the NSD over the past few years by encouraging the practice of the sport. The world has watched the great urbanization of Qatari society, which believes in the value of sport as a cornerstone for investing in the human element. With each passing year, Qatari residents gain access to more public parks with walking/jogging/biking trails and fitness equipment to encourage everyone to exercise and thereby increase mental and physical well-being. All state institutions organize special programs for the NSD. This is done in coordination between sports institutions and the authorities concerned. The NSD Committee has set a specific agenda that includes various activities as in the previous edition which included 575 different activities through the Qatar Sports for All Federation for all ages. Sheikh Mohamed bin Fahad al-Thani, chairman of the organizing committee for the 12th NSD activities at the Aspire Zone Foundation, said the goal is to promote healthy lifestyles and build generations that enjoy mental and physical health. The Qatar Foundation (QF) has invited community members of all abilities and ages to participate in NSD celebrations in Education City by announcing several activities. The fun triathlon “Try-a-Tri” is held for the adult and children categories, with a 100 m swim, followed by a 4 km bike race and ending with a 1.5 km run. Registration can be done at www.qf.org.qa/nsd-triathlon. QF hosts women-only activities at Education City Stadium. Women can participate by forming a team of two to take part in a functional fitness challenge consisting of burpees, squats, mountaineers and others, using equipment such as rowing machines and medicine balls to reach the finish line as quickly as possible. Registration for this challenge is available at www.qf.org.qa/nsd-womenonly. Education City Stadium will also host girls-only and women-only semi-finals and finals between 9:00 am and 1:00 pm. In addition to QF’s Ability Friendly Programme, there will be special sporting activities for people of different abilities, hosted by the Qatar Paralympic Committee. Games such as wheelchair basketball and goal ball can be enjoyed by members of the community. In line with QF’s commitment to promoting sustainability, Education City on NSD will be car-free. Visitors can park their vehicles at Academy Car Park or Oxygen Park Parking and use the Education City Tram to get around, or walk around Education City.