The festivities around Qatar’s biggest ever National Sport Day have begun with the opening of the exciting Sports Village, near Doha’s main post office. Up-and-coming athlete Mariam Farid, young Boxing athletes Abdelrahman Al-Sinawi and Ahmed Abdelmajeed and last year’s BeFit program winner Emad Asad attended the opening of the Village.
The Sport Village will be open from 3pm to 10pm daily from now through to the end of National Sport Day on the 10th of February, with over 13 National Federations offering free activities and entertainment for every age and fitness level.
Boasting an unrivalled schedule of free sporting events across the country, National Sport Day aims to give the people of Qatar an opportunity to kick start a future of healthy living with the Sports Village acting as a main hub in Doha. Ensuring the whole of Qatar can celebrate sport together in a festival atmosphere, the Village will allow everyone to see and learn basic skills in numerous fun-filled sports including handball, basketball, shooting, table-tennis and football while providing fun and games for all the family.
With Qatar hosting a multitude of sports events over the next several years, including the recent Handball World Championships, and the World Boxing Championship and International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Athletics World Championships in October, the public will have the chance to come down, learn more about these sports and try them out. There will also be a focus on healthy eating and general wellness as this year’s winner of the BeFit Program is announced.
Based on the sporting principles of inclusion and unity, participation and fun, fitness and health, National Sport Day has cemented its status as one of the highlights of Qatar’s community, sporting and national calendars with the opening of the QOC Sport Village heralding the start of the 2015 celebrations.
Sheikh Hamad Bin Abdulaziz al-Thani, Head of Media at the QOC, said:
“The celebrations for National Sport Day have officially begun and we are immensely excited. The Qatar Olympic Committee Sport Village 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 leading an active and healthy lifestyle.”
Open from 3pm to 10pm daily, and from 8am to 10pm on National Sport Day, the Qatar Olympic Committee Sport Village welcomed crowds of people on Wednesday afternoon, keen to get warmed up ahead of the day of celebrations.
Speaking at the opening of the Sport Village, Boxing athlete Abdelrahman al-Sinawi, said:
“It has been amazing to come down the Sport Village today and to see all the sports that are on offer. I hope to be one of the best boxers in the world one day and I cannot wait to see the World Boxing Championships first-hand in Doha in October. It is great that the public can have a go at boxing in the Sport Village and learn more about the sport. However, whether it’s boxing, handball, football or basketball, there is something for everyone to try. Sport is not just about being the best in the world but about finding a sport that you enjoy playing in order to stay active, healthy, meet new people and have fun.”
Speaking as the QOC Sport Village was opened to the public, up and coming young female athlete, Mariam Farid, member of the Qatar National Athletics team, said:
“National Sport Day, and the QOC’s Sports Village in particular, is a great opportunity for women and girls to give sports a try. There could be some very talented girls out there who haven’t yet fulfilled their potential and this is their chance to discover new sports. Even if professional sports are not of interest to you, participating in sports regularly is a fun-filled way to maintain a healthy lifestyle and Qatar offers so many opportunities to do so all year round, not just on National Sport Day.”
Alongside the Qatar Olympic Committee Exxon Mobil 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, continuing in their generous support as official sponsor for a third successive year.
“Sports help nurture teamwork, communication and persistence — the same skills required by community leaders,” said Alistair Routledge, President and General Manager of ExxonMobil Qatar Inc. “National Sport Day encourages nation-wide recognition of the benefit of sports, and this is why we are proud to join the Qatar Olympic Committee in an effort to bring sports to the forefront of society, and its various groups, in line with our strategy to provide energy for a thriving society.”
Featuring the traditional Al Shawahef Rowing Championship and the legendary sport walk, as well as the biggest ever line up of free events, 2015 is set to be the largest and most widely celebrated day of sport ever witnessed in the country.
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