Qatar Foundation for Education, Science, and Community Development (QF) is set to celebrate National Sport Day with a jam-packed schedule that will feature over 60 exciting sports activities designed to promote health and wellbeing in Qatar.
Under the theme of ‘Unlock Your Inner Athlete’, this year’s National Sport Day aims to inspire men, women, and children of all ages and athletic abilities to lead healthier, more active lifestyles. In line with the Qatar National Vision 2030 (QNV2030), the activities demonstrate QF’s commitment to shaping a healthy, sports-loving society, while inspiring people to make positive, long-lasting changes.
Throughout the day, there will be a series of competitions and tournaments taking place across Education City. The highlight of these events will be the annual 3km walkathon, hosted by Sidra Medical and Research Center. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore the sprawling campus, and learn more about the role that QF plays in promoting education, science and research, and community development.
This year, activities will be held in QF’s brand-new Oxygen Park. Featuring 117 different types of plants over 130,000 square metres, it boasts a covered walkway, running track, gardens, equestrian track, and sports pitch. On National Sport Day, the Park will host pony rides organised by Al Shaqab, Crossfit, zumba, and boxercise classes, as well as a beach volleyball tournament.
Hamad Bin Khalifa University’s (HBKU) Student Center will also play host to a series of fun-filled activities, including bowling, table tennis, volleyball, basketball, football, traditional games, and group fitness classes. In addition, events for QF staff, those with special needs, and ladies only will also be on offer across both venues.
Commenting on the significance of the annual holiday, Qatar Foundation president Saad al-Muhannadi said, “This year’s National Sport Day will be very exciting as we have a variety of different activities that aim to engage the entire community. QF prioritises sports and wellbeing, and National Sport Day is at the centre of our multifaceted, year-long plan which has been specially designed to foster an active and healthy society.
“We are committed to providing activities that cater to everyone, young and old, in order to spread awareness on the importance of wellbeing, as well as prevent diseases through productive change. Therefore, this is also an opportunity for us to demonstrate the hard work our centres have dedicated to the development of healthcare in Qatar.”
NSD also focuses on nutrition and healthy eating, and, throughout the day, a number of educational activities will be on offer to the public. For example, Sahtak Awalan - Your Health First, a five-year campaign by Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar (WCMC-Q) aimed at influencing young people to make healthy lifestyle choices, will give young people the opportunity to blend their own smoothies using specially adapted bicycles.