Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa al-Muftah, centre, announces the associated events in connection with the Qatar National Day celebrations as other officials look on.

The Ministry of Interior (MoI) and the Qatar National Day (QND) Celebrations Organising Committee will host associated events in collaboration with expatriate communities, companies and schools on December 17 and 18 at various venues.
“A range of cultural events, art competitions and sports championships will be held in Asian Town (Industrial Area), Wakrah Sports Stadium, Rayyan Sports Club and Barwa Workers’ Recreation Complex in Al Khor,” Brigadier Abdullah Khalifa al-Muftah, director of the Public Relations Department at MoI, announced yesterday.
The press conference was also attended by Captain Nasser al-Suwaidi, vice chairman of the QND Celebrations security committee and Mohamed bin Ajyan, chairman of Ibin Ajayan Trading Group along with Asian expatriate community leaders, and school representatives.
Indian and Sri Lankan community teams will showcase their cultural and musical performances at Asian Town amphitheater.
A number of teams and organisations will join various competitions and events at the venue, which will witness art competitions and cultural shows.
The programme will start at 4pm on December 17 and will resume on December 18 at 8am until 10pm with breaks for prayers and lunch.
The Asian Town amphitheater will also witness a mega Qawwali programme on the evening of December 17 from 8am to noon as part of the QND celebration. Qawwali songs will be presented by the renowned Sabri brothers from Rajasthan, India.
Pakistani and Bangladeshi communities, along with the students of various schools, will gather at the Wakrah Sports Club Indoor Stadium to celebrate QND.
A wide variety of cultural fiesta led by famous artistes from Lahore and Peshawar will entertain the crowd. Khalid Malik, Waheed Achakzai, Nelo, Afshan Zaibi, Hina Asif, Wafa Afghanistan, Rahim Master, Hani Albila, Saleem Abila, Omar Gul and Khalida Yasmin are among the performers from Pakistan.
The mega event will start on December 17 from 5pm to 11pm. Student performances and the cultural shows will continue on the following day from 8am to 10pm.
Philippine, Indonesian and Malaysian community teams will also hold cultural events at Rayyan Sports Club indoor stadium along with the students of Philippine and Indian schools. The programme will start at 8am on December 18 and will continue until 10pm.
In Al Khor, many of the traditional, cultural and folklore shows and art competitions of Nepali expats will take place at the Barwa Workers Recreation Complex. The programme will start on December 17 from 4pm to 10pm and will continue on Friday from 8am to 10pm.
Cultural activities in each of the four venues will start with the Qatar National anthem at 8am followed by a colourful parade by all participating schools, community and
company teams in each venue.
Some of the sports and recreational events include football, tug of war, and running race, cricket, volleyball and basketball.
Participating schools and community teams will compete in different cultural activities including the QND parade, thematic show, thematic song in addition to sports items.
Top three winners will receive cash prizes in all arts and sports competitions in four venues. The overall champion from school, community and company teams will be awarded special trophies.