Doha, February 8th, 2011: Katara, the Cultural Village, today announced upcoming activities for National Sports Day on Tuesday 14th February. Activities beginning at 7:30am include Yoga, football, fencing, bicycling as well as exhibitions and film screenings, ending at 10:00pm. Following the decree issued on December 6th 2011 by His Highness Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani, Heir Apparent; every second Tuesday of February has been declared National Sports Day. In celebration of this day, all government ministries, agencies, firms and establishments in the private sector will organise a wide range of sports activities. At Katara, the day will kick start with a relaxing session of Yoga on the beach followed by a second ladies only yoga session, which will take place as part of the women’s fitness day. Ladies only activities include Zumba and a full body work out. Concurrently, a Katara Mini Marathon will also take place including a special run for under 16’s which will take place between 10:00am to 2:00pm. The day will feature a table tennis zone and games of beach volleyball and beach football in addition to an exclusive football match that will add to the excitement. The match will host the former national Qatari team who will take on the current national team. Several professional fencing athletes will also compete in a fencing show which will take place outside of the amphitheater at 2:00pm and 5:00pm. On the other hand, Katara’s Kidszone will offer games and activities for different age groups, including competitions, running and jumping ropes. To ensure a memorable experience, 150 bicycles will be on display and available free of charge for visitors to enjoy the breathtaking views of Katara. Dr. Emad Sultan, Cultural Affairs Director said, “National Sports Day is part of the National Vision 2030 which seeks the recognition of Qatar as a leading sporting nation. As Qatar’s cultural hub, we have organized a variety of activities and events which aim to educate and entertain Qatari’s and residents about the importance of sports through arts and culture.” With an effort to offer guests a deep dive into the world of sports, Katara Art Center will exhibit the Vintage Sports Photography Collection by Sultan Al Jassim. The vintage black and white photography exhibition will include works documenting various sports practiced in Qatar from the fifties to the seventies.The exhibition will also feature rare photographs of the most important players and sports personalities in Qatar during this period. Also exhibited at Katara is the Painting Exhibition by Ibrahim Khalfan. In celebration of Qatar’s first National Sports Day, Hassan Thawadi, CEO World Cup 2022 will be giving an exclusive lecture, inviting all sports enthusiasts to join. The lecture will focus on the importance of sports in Qatar and provide an insight into relevance of football to the nation. “This celebration is the first of its kind in Qatar and we are happy to welcome families and residents of Qatar to Katara on February 14th to enjoy a memorable day,” said Sameera Al Mansouri, Head of Public Relations Department, “We have over 25 activities planned catering to different age groups in an effort to reach out to all sports enthusiasts across Qatar.” Rounding the day off are screenings of Oscar nominated film, Warrior featuring Tom Hardy, Nick Nolte and Joel Edgerton and a special screening of Moneyball, an inspiring film based on a true story starring Brad Pitt & Robin Wright. Other activities include sailing, machine rowing, rowing simulator, kayaking, kite surfing and blokart sailing.All activities are open to the public free of charge, registration is required for various events, please visit www.katara.net for more information.

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