Qatar is celebrating the 9th edition of National Sport Day today. The National Sport Day is a pioneering initiative adopted by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani who issued the Amiri Decree No. 80 for the year 2011, which stated that the second Tuesday of February every year shall be a sport day which encourages everyone to participate in sporting activities.
The National Sport Day (NSD) has been celebrated across Qatar since 2012, and is an extremely popular day which aims to bring people together in celebration of sport, while encouraging people of all ages to stay fit and active. Qatar is the first country in the world to devote a day to sports, where citizens and residents learn about various sports and activities and their many benefits.
The Committee of the National Sport Day has completed all the preparations for the launch of Sport Day activities in all regions of the country. On this day, ministries and other government and public bodies and institutions organise sport events for their employees and their families to raise awareness of the importance of sport and its role in the lives of individuals and societies. The primary goal of NSD is to promote sports and to educate citizens and residents on ways to reduce health risks associated with an inactive lifestyle. Multiple free sporting events will be held throughout Qatar, including cycling, swimming, football, basketball, tennis, taekwondo, beach volleyball, water sports competitions and indoor activities in clubs and sports federations.
The day is also an opportunity to bring communities closer together through sport, based on the sporting principles of team building, inclusion and unity, participation, fitness and health. Sports is one of the most important pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030.
Sports allow people to develop their personalities, raise morale and increase positive aspects and traits such as leadership, self-respect, discipline, and punctuality. Qatar believes that sports diplomacy complements the role of official diplomacy in building bridges of communication, in addition to deepening social and cultural ties between people. The National Sport Day is the culmination of great efforts that has placed Qatar on the global sport map with its world-class sports facilities and preparing the community for the success of major events in the run up to hosting the 2022 World Cup.
The Sport Day is also a step on the path to achieving Qatar’s National Vision, building a conscious and qualified society, with a genuine passion and a healthy body to build the country and achieve its renaissance and development in various fields.
