In celebration of National Sport Day, Qatar University (QU) organized a series of diverse sporting events and activities. The activities were attended by officials, faculty members, students, and members of the community.
The aim of these events is to achieve several outcomes, including introducing the university's sports activities, promoting exercise with family and friends, raising awareness of the importance of sports in individual and community life, and emphasizing QU's role in constructive interaction with the community to celebrate National Sport Day.
President of QU Dr. Omar Al Ansari stated on this occasion, "National Sport Day is a renewed national occasion annually to emphasize the importance of sports and its constructive role in individual and community life. QU, in alignment with state institutions, actively participates in various sports activities and events on this day. We reaffirm our commitment to promoting a sports culture and physical activity as an integral part of university life and a significant aspect of our role in building national capacities." Vice President for Student Affairs Dr. Eiman Mustafawi expressed, "We are keen to enhance physical fitness values and sportsmanship among our students. Encouraging active participation in QU's National Sport Day promotes a healthy lifestyle, builds bridges of communication, enhances team spirit, and fosters positive interaction, contributing to the comprehensive development of our students." Education City celebrated National Sport Day 2024 by organizing a variety of sporting activities and events for all members of society in the Green Spine and Oxygen Park and their surrounding areas, amid a large presence of Qataris and residents of all nationalities.
The Education City's activities at Green Spine and Oxygen Park included most sports that gain physical fitness, such as walking, cycling, football, volleyball, basketball, and other activities in a celebration aimed at devoting a healthy sporting life, which reflects Education City's commitment to encouraging community members to adopt a more healthy lifestyle through its sports programs. Community members also had the opportunity to enjoy and practice walking in the open outdoor facilities and green spaces of Education City.
In a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), journalist Khalid Jassim, the sponsor of the Al Majlis program on Al Kass Channel, said that Sport Day, under the slogan "The Choice Is Yours" this year, carries many wonderful meanings and gives the participants a choice of practicing their preferred sports such as walking, cycling, swimming, football, volleyball, or other sports, because the human being is the primary beneficiary at all levels of physical, health, psychological, and mental health.
Senior community activities specialist at Qatar Foundation Hamad Saleh Al Shaiba affirmed that the Education City hosted a large number of participants in the National Sport Day, pointing out that Green Spine and Oxygen Park in the Education City were a large arena for practicing various sports.
He said that the Education City Stadium was designated for women to practice sporting activities, and that many entities and institutions participated in the Sport Day at Green Spine, in addition to organizing sporting events for the university students' forum.
Head of the Communication Team at the Ministry of Social Development and Family Al-Jazi Al-Anzi said that the ministry participated in the Sport Day in the Green Spine under the slogan (The family is the treasure of a nation), in order to highlight the importance of the family.
She noted that all members of society participated in the Sport Day, including the elderly (Ehsan Center), people with disabilities, and those with visual impairment (Al Noor Center), and that many sporting events were held such as a football match between veteran players and people with disabilities.
Al Sadd Club coach Wesam Rizk confirmed that he was keen to be in Education City and participate in the match between veterans and people with disabilities.
He said that the Sport Day celebrations are based on a firm belief in the value of sports and its importance for human psychological, physical and mental health, stressing that as coaches and veteran players they urge all members of society to practice sports regularly.
Mariam Farid, a Qatari track and field team player and official spokesperson for the Qatari women's committee, expressed her happiness at being in Education City and participating in most of the sporting activities of the Sport Day.
The Education City always gives great attention to sport activity throughout the year and not just on Sport Day, she said, noting that the National Sport Day is of great value and is an annual celebration that everyone awaits because of its many benefits, and that sports encourage healthy lifestyles. Sport Day is a day for making positive and healthy change in society, she said.
Director of student affairs and partnerships for Pre-University Education at Qatar Foundation Mohammed Ahmed Al Shaabi confirmed that the National Sport Day is a very special day, noting that the activities that were held today in the Oxygen Park attracted many entities, institutions and sports federations, such as Qatar Foundation schools and Qatar sport federations. The various events were attended by a large crowd of all ages.
He said that more than 11 sports federations participated in the Sport Day at Oxygen Park namely the handball, basketball, volleyball, triathlon, tennis, chess and other federations, indicating that sporting events serve the goals of the country's national health strategy because the goal of designating a national sport day aims to transform sports into a lifestyle in Qatari society so that this day is an incentive for all citizens and residents of Qatar to practice sports on a regular daily basis.
Director General of student affairs and community partnership for Pre-University Education Sarah Al Hajri said that their participation in sport activities at Oxygen Park took place in cooperation with sports federations, adding that the activities will continue after the Sport Day in cooperation with the federations to graduate talents from schools in the future to be champions in the Qatari national teams. (MORE)