Alya Al Suwaidi during a media briefing held at QF Headquarters yesterday. Pic: Abdul Basit/The Peninsula
DOHA: Qatar Foundation (QF) is set to mark the National Sport Day on Tuesday with a range of sports activities to inspire the community to make long-lasting lifestyle changes.
More than 50 sports activities including a walkathon and ultra marathon will be held across different venues of the Education City.
Activities are designed to encourage healthy, active lifestyles among wider community and public are invited to join the day-long activities, QF officials said yesterday.
“National Sport Day provides us with a wonderful opportunity to inspire the public to become more active. Our events, which feature a range of fun, family-friendly activities, cater to all ages and athletic abilities. We really want to encourage the entire community to come down to Education City on Tuesday with their friends and families and make the most of our facilities,” said Machaille Al Naimi, President of Community Development, QF.
QF’s National Sport Day events will begin with a walkathon, setting out from the Education City Student Center at 8am. It will be followed by a 40km cycle and a 50km ultra marathon will take place for more experienced athletes, both starting at the Ceremonial Court.
While, Al Shaqab will host a day-long sporting festival, ‘The Challenge’, where members of the community are invited to compete in teams across a series of challenging physical activities. The event, will be held between 9am and 4pm. It is open for those over the age of 16 and will include activities that focus on strength, strategy, balance, concentration and competition.
The Oxygen Park within the Education City will also host a range of events, including tennis, football, treasure hunt, rope jump, kangaroo sack race, beach tennis, pony riding, and an array of fun children’s activities.
Ladies-only activities will also be offered at the Education City Student Centre, and at Al Shaqab from 4.30 to 6.30pm.
Additionally, there will be family-oriented activities taking place at the QF Recreation Center, including swimming for children with autism, goal ball – a football activity for the blind – as well as a gymnastics and trampoline display, a squash tournament, and slalom football – blindfolded football to raise blind awareness – among others. QF will also host outdoor games and activities on the Green Spine and at the Ceremonial Court throughout the day.
“This is the 7th year that we celebrate the annual National Sport Day since it was launched by the Qatar government. QF will host a range of fun activities and exciting events catering to all communities catering all ages and athletic abilities. The Sport Day is a festive event that is also part of a wider, yearlong campaign that aims to encourage members of the community to lead active healthy lifestyles. Additionally, the QF activities ensure that the local population is given access to some of the country’s best sporting and recreational facilities,” said Alya Al Suwaidi, Media Relations Officer at QF Press Office, during a media briefing held at QF Headquarters yesterday.
QF’s National Sport Day festivities are part of a wider, year-round campaign that aims to encourage Qatar’s population to live active, healthy lifestyles.
