DOHA: A wide variety of sporting activities to suit all ages will be held tomorrow by government institutions and private organisations to mark National Sport Day (NSD) 2016.
Aspire Zone, Cultural Village Foundation-Katara and Education City are among the major venues for the celebrations.
Marked on second Tuesday of February every year, the occasion aims to raise awareness among people about sport being vital to healthy living.
Foreign Ministry
The Foreign Ministry will participate with sport, social, cultural and recreational activities at the Diplomatic Club from today.
Foreign Minister H E Sheikh Mohamed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani said in a statement: “I don’t need to remind that ‘a healthy mind is in a healthy body’ and the role of sport in bringing up a healthy generation in line with Qatar National Vision 2030 which cares for the investment in human resources through the creation of physically and psychologically strong generation.
He stressed that sport is an international physical language that brings together countries and contributes to cultural integration.
“Out of this concept we directed our diplomatic and consular missions abroad to organise events to highlight National Sport Day and convey Qatar’s civilisational message to all communities.”
He referred to close relations between sport and diplomacy and the role of sport as popular diplomacy that complements official diplomacy and enhances relations among states and brotherly and friendly peoples.
He said sports clubs and national teams have always been recognised as an equivalent to diplomatic missions due to the role they play in promoting peace between nations.
He cited the visit of the US Ping Pong team to China in 1971, which was the gateway for US president Richard Nixon to visit Beijing and normalise relations once more.
The Minister said FIFA World Cup 2022 will make Qatar an important destination for sports lovers worldwide and act as a diplomatic boost for the country.
QATAR AIRWAYS
Qatar Airways (QA) Group employees, alongside their family members, are gearing up to celebrate NSD at Al Sadd Sports Club tomorrow.
They will take part in competitions, including football tournaments, supported by three of FC Barcelona’s coaches; basketball; cricket and much more. Qatari employees will serve as on-site leaders during the day, helping families navigate various activity zones. To create a unique and team atmosphere, employees and their families will also be presented with branded caps and T-shirts on arrival at the club. QA is one of the fastest growing airlines operating one of the youngest fleets in the world.
KAHRAMAA
Qatar General Electricity and Water Corporation’s (Kahramaa) events will start with a bicycle ride, led by Minister of Energy and Industry H E Dr Mohammed bin Saleh Al Sada, Kahramaa President Essa bin Hilal Al Kuwari and other officials.
Several fun-filled sport activities and competitions have been lined up, including ‘Find the Treasure’ race, which is expected to be a major draw.
HMC
The main activities of Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) for its staff and their families will be held at Bayt Al Dhiyafah in Hamad Bin Khalifa Medical City.
More than 1,000 people will take part in activities, including a walkathon, starting at 8am from the Nurses Club and the popular mini football tournament at the club.
Staff and their families as well as patients and visitors to Al Wakrah and Al Khor hospitals and the Cuban Hospital will take part in separate events being organised at the hospitals. Activities will be held from 7am to noon at Bayt Al Dhiyafah and other locations. HMC is also joining the Ministry of Public Health and the Primary Health Care Corporation in events at Aspire Park. There will be a 1.5km walkathon which will start from near Aspire Park Lake at 8am as well as free basic health checks and other activities.
UDC
United Development Company (UDC), in collaboration with Qatar Olympic Committee, has planned sporting activities on the picturesque Lido Venezia Beach in the Qanat Quartier precinct at the Pearl-Qatar, from 9am to 4pm
Sport activities include beach volleyball, beach football, basketball, table tennis, badminton, fitness classes, outdoor gym, and a designated zone hosting kid-oriented attractions, ensuring that the day is a family-centred occasion.
SAVE THE DREAM
Save the Dream has launched a new social media competition for sport fans to celebrate and win on National Sports Day.
As part of its commitment to empower youth through the values of sport, a photo contest — which will take place on all Save the Dream social media platforms — will give sport fans the opportunity to contribute with their creativity to promoting and preserving values of sport.
Save the Dream, which started two years ago as a global programme with leading agency Magnum Photos using images to promote sport values, will award best photos with two tickets to the Qatar Moto GP taking place at Losail International Circuit from March 17 to 20 and will promote the images through its global platforms.
For a chance to win, fans should tweet or send Facebook photos having fun and playing sport on NSD using the hashtag #savethedream
OOREDOO
Ooredoo will return to Museum of Islamic Art Park (MIA) tomorrow for the third year running to host an all-day event.
The activity-packed schedule has been designed with a focus on getting visitors to think about their fitness levels and strength and will include classes, trainers and activities to help the whole community get into shape.
Starting from 8.30am, Ooredoo will hold fitness classes for all ages and levels, including Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, a walking group, gladiator joust, circuit training, football, kayaking and more. To ensure that activities promote benefits of healthy living among participants, Ooredoo has hired professional sports trainers to teach them exercise skills such as warming-up, which can then be used in everyday life.
ASPIRE ZONE
Venues and facilities at Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) are ready to receive thousands of participants.
People interested in visiting AZF can find details of activities on offer through the ‘Life in Aspire’ mobile app, www.aspirezone.qa, or any of AZF’s social media channels.
The programme comprises a wide variety of sport activities to suit all ages, from early in the morning.
Registration is open for the Fun Run at 7am and visitors can take part in a 3K Fun Run around Aspire Zone.
Families will be able to enjoy bikes in Aspire Zone, situated behind the children’s playground area next to the Aspire Dome.
The 5,000-step journey will start at Aspire Park, next to the Burgeri restaurant. It consists of 12 stations at which participants will receive tips and advice on physical activity and a healthy lifestyle.
Events for men will be held between 8am and noon and will include beach soccer and basketball.
Ladies’ activities between 9am and 10.30am will be at the ladies club and will include Zumba classes.
Activities for children include Judo and football. Between 10am and 4pm the wall- climbing activity will aim to teach participants mountaineering skills under the supervision of licensed instructors on an outdoor climbing wall. The event will take place near the outdoor pitches behind the Grand Heritage hotel.
‘Beat the champion’ is a variety of indoor activities, including a 20-metre sprint to see if people can run as fast as Usain Bolt, a throwing speed test to see if they can match Major League baseball pitchers, a vertical jump to see if they can fly like Michael Jordan, and a 200m bike race for friends and family.
The Peninsula
