All eyes will be on Aspire Zone on the 14^th of February, as the Foundation and its affiliated member organisations prepare to launch one of the biggest National Sport Day celebrations in Qatar, laying on a programme that offers the perfect blend of sporting activities and family fun.

For its sixth annual NSD celebration, Aspire Zone Foundation will introduce a number of unique sporting activities, available in Qatar for the first time. These include several innovative Eastern and European sports, tailored and presented in a way that appeals to local preferences and expectations.

Commenting on this year’s programme, Mr. Nasser Abdullah Al-Hajri, Director of PR and Communications at Aspire Zone Foundation said: “Sport is an activity that strengthens bonds between family and friends by enabling them to spend quality time together whilst also keeping healthy. With that in mind, the team at Aspire Zone Foundation has worked tirelessly to organise a range of unique and thrilling family-oriented sporting activities designed to create an ideal sporting atmosphere in a family-friendly environment. This supports Aspire Zone Foundation’s aim of bringing members of the local community together and giving them the opportunity to enjoy unique and memorable experiences.”

Al-Hajri added: "National Sport Day enables Aspire Zone Foundation to reach out to audiences and spread awareness about the year-round sports and educational programmes delivered by our member organisations – Aspire Academy, Aspetar and Aspire Logistics. Our programmes seek to promote a sporting culture and healthy lifestyles among community members, and offer something for all age groups.”

All members of the community who are keen to participate in group activities and spend some quality time together can do so through the various sporting events being organised on Aspire Zone’s outdoor pitch (10). Open from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm, these include popular sports such as football, basketball, volleyball, calisthenics demonstrations, parachute games, mini telematch competitions, and movement with music.

Aspire Zone Foundation has also allocated a large space in Pitch 10 for young children to engage in fun activities and games in a safe and secure environment. These include bouncy castles, obstacle courses, and football skills for kids. Soft play areas for children under the age of two are also available, meaning that even the youngest members of the family can take part in the fun.

Women-only activities inside the Aspire Dome

Meanwhile, mothers and daughters seeking a private and comfortable space can participate in women-only activities that take place on the indoor pitches of Aspire Dome from 10:00 am until 1:00 pm. During such activities, they can learn new skills in gymnastics and basketball under the supervision of coaches from Aspire Academy’s Multi-Sport Skill Development programme coaches.

New global sporting activities brought to Qatar for the first time

Every year, AZF adds new and innovative elements to its NSD activities designed to make the event as engaging and appealing to as many members of the local community as possible. Uniquely for Qatar, AZF has incorporated into its activities this year a new sporting trend that is growing in popularity – “Nordic walking” – an affordable sporting activity that burns large numbers of calories and helps achieve total body fitness.

Originating from the Scandinavian region in northern Europe, several recent studies have emphasised the Nordic walk’s crucial role in improving overall physical and mental health. Drawing on the extensive experience of their staff, world-renowned coaches from Aspetar – one of Aspire Zone Foundation’s member organsiations – will be situated in five stationsto demonstrate the sport to visitors above the age of 18 who are interested in trying it. The demonstrations will start from 11:00 am in front of Aspetar’s state-of-the-art West Wing.

Furthermore, Aspire Zone Foundation, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Doha, will also organise live ‘Kendo’ demonstrations. Kendo is one of Japan’s oldest martial arts and involves participants competing using bamboo swords. Visitors keen to try Kendo will be able to do so under the supervision of highly trained professionals, starting at 9:00 am on pitch 10.

Exciting indoor activities equipped with innovative technologies from Aspire Academy

Visitors to Aspire Zone will also be able to enjoy a wide range of indoor activities, starting from 10:00 am in Aspire Dome. These include indoor wall climbing, individual football activity, as well as fitness and gym classes delivered by ASPIRE ACTIVE programme.

In addition, Aspire Academy will organise a ‘Beat the Champion’ event, made up of a series of sporting challenges that include a 20 metre sprint, ball throwing, vertical jumps and stationary bike races. During these activities, participants will be able to trial Aspire Academy’s innovative monitoring technologies which measure their performance against the world’s top athletes. Other activities provided by Aspire Academy’s Multi-Sport Skill Development Programme for men include athletics, squash, fencing and table tennis.

Activities and events for all members of the local community – including people with special needs

Building on the successes of previous years, other highlights in this year’s programme include Aspire Zone’s annual Fun Run and the ‘5,000 Step Journey’, with over 12 educational stations that provide valuable tips and advice for participants about physical activity and healthy lifestyles.

These activities will take place on courses that are specially designed to be safe, convenient and accessible to enable as many members of the community as possible to take part. During last year’s NSD all manner of visitors took part, including young and old, men and women, parents with baby strollers, and people with special needs.

Aspire Zone Foundation offers year-round sporting activities

AZF’s efforts to promote sporting activities extend beyond Day by providing year-round health activities and educational programmes designed to keep community members active. These draw on the expertise of its affiliated MOs – Aspire Academy, Aspetar, Aspire Logistics – as well as its vast and extensive capabilities and expertise, spacious outdoor fields and world-class facilities.

Taken together, these support Aspire Zone Foundation’s mission to encourage engagement among all members of the local community in an ideal sporting environment in support of the Qatar National Vision 2030 and its aim to enable all of Qatar’s people to participate fully in economic, social, and political life and contribute to sustaining a prosperous society.

More information more about Aspire Zone Foundation’s programmes and events is available on its social media channels, or through the ‘Life in Aspire’ smartphone app or from the website http://www.lifeinaspire.qa/NSD

Follow us on our social media channels: @ILQlive @ILQlive @ILoveQtr ILoveQatar

QNE

Start a discussion