By Joey Aguilar/Staff Reporter

Like one big happy family, top officials of the Alfardan Group led all its employees in celebrating the Qatar National Sport Day by holding 12 competitions and games at the Al Ahli stadium in Doha yesterday.
Hundreds of sport enthusiasts, employees, their  families and children participated and even played in more than one sporting event.
“This is to show you how much they are committed and interested,” said Omar Hussain Alfardan, president of Alfardan group.
He said all their companies and departments had joined in what he described as a momentous celebration initiated by HH the Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa al-Thani and HH the Heir Apparent Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani.
The events included mini-marathon, football, volleyball, basketball, cricket, badminton, squash, and tennis.
“The Emir and Sheikh Tamim initiated this important event for us,” Omar said. “It’s the vision of the Emir and the Heir Apparent to take Doha to 2022 to really be a sports nation.”
He also believes that employees who engage themselves into sports perform well and become efficient in work. “Their productivity gets higher,” he stressed.
“You know today it’s about speed and what you deliver in a given time. You cannot be a competitor if you are not faster and more dynamic. You can only get that by sports,” said Omar, who was with Alfardan Board of Director Fahad Hussain Alfardan and Mohamed Jassim al-Naama, a top official of Reach Out To Asia (Rota).
Rota is a non-profit organisation in Qatar which aims to provide young people access to the education and training they need.  
Stressing the importance of sports to all people whether young or old, Alfardan Group vice chairman Ali Hussain Alfardan urged their employees to engage in whatever sports they like.
“I would like them to play any sport because this will let them to be more active,” he said.
“I’m happy to see all who are here as one big happy family. We advise our people to engage in sports because it takes out all the disease in you. It keeps you healthy,” said Ali who joined his team in the football finals against St. Regis hotel.
Echoing the statements of the president, Ali also added that the Emir acknowledges sports as a driving force behind a productive society.
As part of its corporate social responsibility, Alfardan has partnered with Rota in engaging the youth and other community members “in addressing educational and development challenges both at home and abroad.”
Al-Naama told Gulf Times that he was also happy to see all the employees of Alfardan Group “altogether under one umbrella.”
“They have these activities with a feeling like a family,” he said. “It’s really a great opportunity for Rota to participate and requested by Alfardan to come and enjoy this.”
Expressing his deep appreciation to the Emir and the Heir Apparent, al-Naama said the Qatar National Sport Day was an excellent and a fantastic idea which could be replicated by other countries.
“It is really important, it’s a need. It’s a stress reliever. I hope other countries would also go and make their own sports day like Qatar,” he added.
Muhibullah Mani, chief operating officer of Alfardan Properties, said all the teams from different companies had prepared well for such a well-celebrated event where employees’ families, friends, and children are welcome.
Some of the officials who graced the event included Aisha Hussain Alfardan, personal adviser to the chairman, and deputy chief executive officer K.C. Dalal.
Meanwhile, Alfardan Properties (AFP) won the championship of the volleyball men while the Alfardan Automobile (AFA) company dominated the women’s event. In basketball, Prestige Cars won the championship.
Lewis Glenn Victor and Faizan Manna won the badminton doubles for the men’s event while Angelica Niedo and Sheryle De Leon won the women’s event. Ahmad Bayoumi bagged the championship in the men’s tennis.
The cheering competition also wowed the crowd and eased the tension between competing teams in various sport events.