Youngsters posing for the camera at the Qatar Olympic Sports Zone near Doha’s main post office as the Qatar Olympic Committee began National Sport Day festivities yesterday.
DOHA: The festivities around Qatar’s biggest ever National Sport Day (NSD) started yesterday with the opening of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Sport Zone, near Doha’s main post office.
The interactive Sport Zone is open from 3pm to 10pm until February 10 and on February 11 from 8am to 10pm and features countless free activities and entertainment for every age and fitness level.
National Sport Day aims to give people an opportunity to kick start a future of healthy living with the Sport Zone acting as a main hub. Ensuring the whole of Qatar can celebrate sport together in a festival atmosphere, the Sport Zone will allow everyone to see and learn basic skills in eight key sports including basketball, shooting, table-tennis, handball and football while providing fun and games for all the family. There will also be a focus on healthy eating and general wellness to highlight the importance of healthy living.
“The celebrations for the NSD have officially begun and we are immensely excited. The QOC Sport Zone is bigger and better than ever with entertainment and exciting sporting activities for everyone. Our aim is to introduce as many people as possible to a whole range of sports with demonstrations and skill sessions. This way we hope to get all of Qatar trying new sports, meeting new people and taking steps towards an even healthier lifestyle,” said Assistant Secretary General for Administrative Support Mashaal Bin Nasser Al Khalifa.
Based on the sporting principles of inclusion and unity, participation and fun, fitness and health, NSD has cemented its status as one of the highlights of Qatar’s community, sporting and national calendars with the opening of the QOC Sport Zone heralding the start of the 2014 celebrations.
Al Khalifa added: “The reception from the public has been fantastic already and we look forward to welcoming everyone to the Sport Zone over the coming days. The key for us was to provide an entertaining and fun environment for all of Qatar in the build up to, and on the day of National Sport Day. With so much happening over the next few days there is guaranteed to be something for everyone regardless of their age or sporting abilities; for us it’s about bringing the country together, uniting everyone through sport.”
The Sport Zone welcomed crowds of people yesterday afternoon, keen to get warmed up ahead of the day of celebrations.
“I didn’t realise just how much was happening down here and the area looks fantastic. I saw the list of sports which were being taught to beginners like me and just wanted to take advantage. I’m a big sport fan but it’s clear after visiting the Sport Zone that there truly is something for everyone,” said Arwad Mahmoud, one of the visitors.
Alongside the QOC, Exxon Mobil, official sponsor for a third successive year, has led the calls for the community to get active, healthy and take part in the wide range of free sporting events planned across the country.
“We readily support excellence in sports and healthy living in the State of Qatar and are proud to do so in partnership with the Qatar Olympic Committee,” said Bart Cahir, President and General Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar.
Along with the sporting events across the country, NSD will also focus on Qatari culture with a traditional Al Shawahef rowing championship opening the proceedings on the day. The event will act as a reminder of Qatar’s ancient sporting heritage and the role it has played in the country’s most recent sporting developments. Official NSD participating venues include Aspire, Katara, The Pearl, Souq Waqif, Al Refaa Street, among others.
The Peninsula
