People practice Nordic Walking at Aspire Zone.
Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) has finished its final preparations for National Sport Day tomorrow, and will host a variety of sporting activities suitable for all.
The organisation will keep its indoor parking spaces closed to the public from 3am until 3pm on National Sport Day to ensure that visitors, particularly children, will be safe from the risks posed by moving vehicles.
Aspire Zone Foundation will provide water bottles free of charge to counter dehydration. The organisation has also recommended that visitors pack healthy snacks and fruits to stay nourished throughout the day.
To prepare for any sudden emergencies, AZF has distributed five checkpoints across Aspire Zone at which ambulances and first aid will be available.
Meanwhile AZF, in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Doha, have also finished setting up for the ‘Kendo’ demonstrations, set to take place from 9am to 12pm on pitch (10). Kendo is one of Japan’s oldest martial arts and involves participants competing using bamboo swords.
The Fun Run activity, one of the most popular events in AZF’s National Sport Day programme in previous years, is back by popular demand and will be open to all. Registration for the 3km race will begin at 6:30am and the race will then start at 8am in the area between Khalifa International Stadium and the Torch Hotel.
Beach soccer enthusiasts can take part in a 5-a-side friendly beach soccer competition, taking place from 9am to 1pm at Aspire Zone Foundation’s Sand Pitch, with registrations starting at 8:30am.
Families and children who are keen to participate in group activities can do so through the various sporting events being organised on Aspire Zone’s outdoor pitch 10.
One of the highlights of the National Sport Day celebrations are the final matches and awarding ceremonies of the Aspire Football Tournament. The matches start at 9am and the awarding will take place at 1pm. The tournament involves more than 350 young players representing Aspire Academy and Qatar Football Association’s registered teams.
Other highlight of this year’s programme is the ‘5,000 Step Journey’, which will be held from 11:00am to 1:00 pm, from the Torch Hotel in Aspire Zone. During the walk, participants will pass by several stations around Aspire Park at which they will receive valuable tips and advice about physical activity and leading a healthy lifestyle.
For its sixth annual NSD celebration, AZF has incorporated “Nordic Walking” into its programme, a new sporting trend that is growing in popularity. Coaches from Aspetar, one of AZF’s member organisations, will be based at five stations in front of Aspetar’s West Expansion to demonstrate the activity to visitors between the ages of 18-50. The 2-hour demonstrations will be held from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm, and participants will be provided with special walking poles during the activity.
Visitors looking to participate in fun indoor activities can sign up for any number of exciting and private activities which take place in Aspire Dome, the largest indoor multi-purpose dome in the world.
Participants taking part in National Sport Day will be able to enjoy several fitness and gym classes, delivered by coaches from Aspire Active from 9:00 am until 2:00 pm in the Volleyball Hall and Men’s Fitness Area in Aspire Dome.
Individuals and family members, particularly children, can enjoy Aspire Academy’s ’12 Goals’ activity, designed to teach participants’ basic climbing skills and football tricks. Thes activity will be held in the Gymnastics Hall in Aspire Dome, from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm.
Visitors can try a wide range of activities, including ‘Beat the Champion’, a series of “come and try” sport science tests and activities available to all members of the community. Teams from Aspire Academy will measure participants’ performance and compare it against top tier athletes including Olympic superstar, Usain Bolt and basketball legend Michael Jordan amongst others. Participants will be awarded certificates depending on their results. The ‘Beat the Champion’ event will take place on the Indoor Athletics Track at Aspire Dome, starting from 10:00 am to 4:00 pm.
Participants will also be able to take part in a set of multi-skill activities in athletics, squash, fencing and table tennis, all under the supervision of Aspire Academy’s Multi-Sport Skill Development Programme’s renowned coaches. These will take place in the Multi-Purpose Hall 1 and squash courts, from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm.
