Countdown to National Sport Day has begun; four more days to go!

This year National Sport Day falls on February 14. Not only is it a national holiday, the entire community of Doha-from local Qatari to people from different countries and all walks of life-are encouraged to be part of sporting activities taking place all over the city. The aim of National Sport Day is to promote sports, fitness and a healthy lifestyle along with educating the community on the health risks linked with inactivity which include diabetes and heart disease.

In 2011, the Emiri Decree of No. 80 nominated National Sport Day be held on the second Tuesday of February each year. The first National Sport Day was help in 2012 and became an instant hit with people living in Qatar. They hailed it as a great initiative of the government of Qatar to promote sports and fitness in the country.

Apart from encouraging the community to participate in sports and fitness activities, the aim of this day is to bring communities together through the principles of team building, unity, participation, inclusion, health and fitness.

Every year since 2012, a number of private sector companies along with government ministries organize different sports and fitness related activities for employees and Qatari community in different parts of the country. Aspire Zone, the Qatar Olympic Committee, Hamad Medical Corporation and the Ministry of Health are among the prominent organizations that hold events o National Sport Day. The wide range of activities on this day include handball, basketball, football, swimming, cycling, rowing, taekwondo, tennis and much more, and is open to the public.

Other than Qatar, only a few other nations (India, Japan and Malaysia) have a national holiday exclusively dedicated to sports and fitness.

Some regular events are held every year in conjunction with National Sport Day. These include:

1.       The sailboat race: This race is held by the Qatar Sailing and Rowing Federation. It starts at the Corniche, where you can also avail the Federation’s rowing machines and kayaks. Other activities include handball, miniature golf, water skiing, Shaweef rowing and weight lifting.

2.       Sports activities at the Museum of Islamic Art Park: Take a walk in Doha’s lovely park, a family favorite, and enjoy the fresh air while takin part in fitness classes along with kayaking and soccer.

3.       Sporting events at the Katara Cultural Village: Every National Sport Day, people throng to Katara to participate in events that include chess matches, karate, weight lifting, wrestling, boxing, table tennis, sack races, touch-to-tackle rugby. In addition, you can watch the fast-paced basketball, soccer and handball games that are part of the event.

4.       Doha Sports City sports and fitness activities: If you visit, the Doha Sports Club, well-known all over Qatar for its state-of-the-art sports training equipment and sports activities, you can watch or take part in a large number of different activities that include basketball, beach soccer, fencing, judo, wall climbing. There’s even a four-seat bicycle ride and family boot camp that challenges your fitness and activity levels.

5.       Dolphin Energy (DE) Doha Dash: The DE Dash has been part of the National Sport Day activities since it started in 2012. The dash starts at 7 am, and the length of the dash may be anywhere between 1 km (0.6 miles) up to 10 km (6 miles). To register, visit www.dohadash.com and be ready to challenge yourself.

Source: Public Holidays Global and Hukoomi Qatar e-Government

Cover photo credit: Hukoomi Qatar e-Government