Scattered rains and an overcast sky added fun to sporting activities as Qatar marked its sixth National Sport Day (NSD) yesterday in a big way. Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and Father Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, along with ministers and other senior government officials joined the public in NSD activities at different venues.
The Emir visited the Nomas Center to meet children with autism, who were participating in a horse-riding event. The event was organised as part of an experiment , first of its kind in the Middle East, to create a bond between the autistic children and horses. The Emir then joined the children in the indoor facility to take part in the different sport activities such as running, archery and football.
The Father Emir joined a walking exercise in Al Shaqab stud and then watched an Arabian horse show. H H Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, Chairperson of Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF), and H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice-Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, participated in QF's National Sport Day activities at Al Shaqab's Indoor Arena, Education City.
H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani, President of the Qatar Olympic Committee and QOC Secretary General, Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari toured and joined in NSD activities taking place around Qatar.
NSD, this year, saw a total of 151 events organised by some 135 different institutions. A plethora of sports and health and fitness activities were held across various locations including Katara, Aspire Zone, Qatar Foundation, Asian Town, the Museum of Islamic Art Park, Asian Town and The Pearl-Qatar, among others.
The Ministry of Culture and Sports had opened all clubs, playgrounds and sports halls to the public for exercise and to promote awareness about healthy lifestyle.
NSD activities formally began with marches organised at the Corniche for men, for women at Aspire Park and also in other places outside the city under the supervision of clubs and municipalities so as to facilitate all the people to participate in the day’s events.
Katara hosted a number of activities at its esplanade with the participation of over 70 associations, federations, and institutes. Aspire Zone Foundation (AZF) and its affiliated member organisations had one of the biggest NSD celebrations in the country offering unique sporting activities, available in Qatar for the first time such as innovative Eastern and European sports.
Qatar Foundation’s events at Al Shaqab included a walkathon and a 40km cycling. Additional QF Sport Day activities included ladies-only fitness classes at Hamad bin Khalifa University's (HBKU) Student Center, and QF's Pre-University Education (PUE) schools celebrated with range of exciting Sport Day events, ranging from football to traditional games.
Blue collar workers in Qatar were also involved with a number of activities such as volleyball tournament, tug-of-war and basketball, at Asian Town.
