A varied programme of sport and other physical activities aimed at promoting active and healthy lifestyles will take centre stage at various locations in the country Tuesday to mark Qatar’s ninth National Sport Day (NSD).
The one-of-its-kind event, held every second Tuesday of February under Amiri Decision No 80, encourages all members of the society to take part in the nationwide celebration.
Major NSD venues such as Aspire Zone, Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park, Katara – the Cultural Village, and Education City, are expected to attract a large number of participants and spectators with a varied programme of activities.
At Aspire Zone, people of all ages and level of fitness will have the opportunity to take part in more than 20 unique events, including 'Run&Bike', obstacle-course race, and foot-volleyball. The popular fun run will be open to all members of the community: men, women, families, children and persons with special needs.
Those who want to burn more calories can join other set of activities such as running, hammer throwing, and plyometric challenges at the Aspire Dome.
At MIA Park, Ooredoo has prepared more than 45 activities such as basketball, handball, volleyball and martial arts, among others, for people of all ages and abilities to celebrate the annual event. The main stage will feature aerobics, boot camp and other 'exciting activities' for families.
People will also have the chance to take part in a number of challenges and promotions during the celebration where several prizes are at stake such as a vouchers, smart watch, mobile data, and Nojoom points.
At Katara, 54 public and private entities will be taking part in the NSD 2020, which focuses on community participation as part of the cultural village’s goal of raising awareness on the importance of sports and an active and healthy lifestyle.
Katara, in partnership with 17 sports federations, is offering an array of sports activities such as boxing, wrestling, tennis, basketball, volleyball, football, sailing, rowing, table tennis and rugby, as well as competitions and games for young visitors.
At Education City, Qatar Foundation will be hosting 80 events for NSD, including general fitness, yoga, football, basketball, high-intensity interval training workouts, a large-scale obstacle course for adults and a smaller one for children, mind-stimulating activities, along with other special activations by Dogpound, and UN1T, among others. It will also have a designated area for women-only activities.
NSD will witness several government ministries, as well as private companies, organising hundreds of sports activities for their employees and the public.
QNA reported that women activities are also set to take place at 12 venues, including the Lusail Circuit Club, Women’s Sports Committee, and a number of parks, sports halls, and schools, assigned by the Ministry of Culture and Sports to mark NSD this year.
Other locations hosting NSD celebrations with a wide range of programmes also include Qatar University, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Qatar National Library, a number of malls such as Doha Festival City (month-long celebration) and Al Mirqab Mall.
'A great initiative which brings people together'
British ambassador Ajay Sharma described the National Sport Day (NSD) in Qatar as a great initiative which brings together lots of people to exercise and promote healthy and active lifestyles.
“It is really an interesting initiative because we spend a lot of time trying to encourage people to take more exercise, live healthier lifestyles, and I think Qatar is probably one of the only countries in the world that is really taken the commitment so seriously in this way,” the envoy said. “It is almost like a national day in a sense, so I think it is a great initiative and I will be like in previous years happy to participate.”
“It is great that you see everyone, doesn’t matter what job they do, what role they play in Qatar that they all take part. So I think it’s great from a health and sport perspective but it is also great from a society perspective because you got lots of different people all coming together on one day,” the envoy said.
Sharma cited Qatar’s support for the British Premiere and British teams, which he said creates a connection between the UK and the people living in Qatar.
“That shows the value of football, and we’ll see in 2020 when it will create a connection between Qatar and the rest of the world,” he said.
“I hope there will be a match between Qatar and England before the tournament. I think lot of teams would want to come out and see and experience Qatar before the tournament and I hope England would be one of them,” Sharma added.
Major NSD venues such as Aspire Zone, Museum of Islamic Art (MIA) Park, Katara – the Cultural Village, and Education City, are expected to attract a large number of participants and spectators with a varied programme of activities.
At Aspire Zone, people of all ages and level of fitness will have the opportunity to take part in more than 20 unique events, including 'Run&Bike', obstacle-course race, and foot-volleyball. The popular fun run will be open to all members of the community: men, women, families, children and persons with special needs.
Those who want to burn more calories can join other set of activities such as running, hammer throwing, and plyometric challenges at the Aspire Dome.
At MIA Park, Ooredoo has prepared more than 45 activities such as basketball, handball, volleyball and martial arts, among others, for people of all ages and abilities to celebrate the annual event. The main stage will feature aerobics, boot camp and other 'exciting activities' for families.
People will also have the chance to take part in a number of challenges and promotions during the celebration where several prizes are at stake such as a vouchers, smart watch, mobile data, and Nojoom points.
At Katara, 54 public and private entities will be taking part in the NSD 2020, which focuses on community participation as part of the cultural village’s goal of raising awareness on the importance of sports and an active and healthy lifestyle.
Katara, in partnership with 17 sports federations, is offering an array of sports activities such as boxing, wrestling, tennis, basketball, volleyball, football, sailing, rowing, table tennis and rugby, as well as competitions and games for young visitors.
At Education City, Qatar Foundation will be hosting 80 events for NSD, including general fitness, yoga, football, basketball, high-intensity interval training workouts, a large-scale obstacle course for adults and a smaller one for children, mind-stimulating activities, along with other special activations by Dogpound, and UN1T, among others. It will also have a designated area for women-only activities.
NSD will witness several government ministries, as well as private companies, organising hundreds of sports activities for their employees and the public.
QNA reported that women activities are also set to take place at 12 venues, including the Lusail Circuit Club, Women’s Sports Committee, and a number of parks, sports halls, and schools, assigned by the Ministry of Culture and Sports to mark NSD this year.
Other locations hosting NSD celebrations with a wide range of programmes also include Qatar University, Msheireb Downtown Doha, Qatar National Library, a number of malls such as Doha Festival City (month-long celebration) and Al Mirqab Mall.
'A great initiative which brings people together'
British ambassador Ajay Sharma described the National Sport Day (NSD) in Qatar as a great initiative which brings together lots of people to exercise and promote healthy and active lifestyles.
“It is really an interesting initiative because we spend a lot of time trying to encourage people to take more exercise, live healthier lifestyles, and I think Qatar is probably one of the only countries in the world that is really taken the commitment so seriously in this way,” the envoy said. “It is almost like a national day in a sense, so I think it is a great initiative and I will be like in previous years happy to participate.”
“It is great that you see everyone, doesn’t matter what job they do, what role they play in Qatar that they all take part. So I think it’s great from a health and sport perspective but it is also great from a society perspective because you got lots of different people all coming together on one day,” the envoy said.
Sharma cited Qatar’s support for the British Premiere and British teams, which he said creates a connection between the UK and the people living in Qatar.
“That shows the value of football, and we’ll see in 2020 when it will create a connection between Qatar and the rest of the world,” he said.
“I hope there will be a match between Qatar and England before the tournament. I think lot of teams would want to come out and see and experience Qatar before the tournament and I hope England would be one of them,” Sharma added.
