Stalls being set up at Katara Esplanade where 80 different activities have been planned for the National Sport Day. Picture by: Abdul Basit / The Peninsula
The National Sport Day, since its launch in 2012, has had a positive impact on the general culture of the community. The event over the past years has helped increase women's participation in sports activities and nurture a sporting culture in the younger generations in the country, according to H E Salah bin Ghanem Al Ali, Minister of Culture and Sports.
The National Sport Day, a pioneering move by the Qatar government, has helped promote sports and healthy lifestyle as ways to reduce risks associated with an inactive lifestyle.
“NSD, which is marked on the second Tuesday of February every year, is much awaited by all. The day is not just about competition, but the public events that are open to all to express the extent of community involvement in sports,” the Minister said. “We are also seeing an increased participation of women in sports activities, as a result of the sport day initiative. Women account for half of the community here and they have a key role in creating sport values among the children, which builds cooperation and social coherence,” he added.
With more women participating, the NSD committee this year has prepared exclusive facilities to cater to them.
Special trainers and sport activities planned for NSD
The exclusive facilities ensuring privacy are being set up in collaboration with the Ministry of Sport and Culture, Aspire Park and women sport committee. Special trainers and sport activities are also planned, according to the authorities. Meanwhile, the minister also stressed that all National Sport Day venues in the country will be made available to everyone.
“Everyone can utilise the facilities, which reflects the government’s wider community commitment, by supporting sports. NSD focuses on a variety of sport activities and all the types of activities of the communities show their affiliation to the country,” said the Minister. Abdulrahman Muslim Al Dosari, head of the NSD organising committee said that some 200 government and private oganisations and entities have shown interest to take part in the official NSD activities at Doha Corniche, Culutural Village Katara, Aspire Park, all sports clubs and youth centres.
