Doha: Qatar Foundation celebrated National Sport Day (NSD) 2022 with an array of community-focused activities and events – including the launch of an inclusive football tournament.
The activities, which were sponsored by Ooredoo and ranged from fitness classes, sports competitions, and exercise challenges – such as Zumba, boxing, and yoga. Members of the community were also able to enjoy Education City’s outdoor facilities and green, open spaces. All activities were held in line with public health guidelines.
The Women and Girls Football Initiative, in partnership with Generation Amazing – a program under the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy – and Adidas, saw prizes awarded by H E Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al Thani, Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation, accompanied by football icon David Beckham.
The tournament, held in the Education City Stadium, consisted of three components – the women’s amateur initiative, the grassroots girls’ element, and educational workshops – and is designed to help develop women’s football in Qatar, promote sporting inclusivity, and contribute to a socially driven global legacy for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
Jawhara Al-Hajri, a visitor to Education City, said: “We have missed visiting the facilities at Education City, so as soon as the events were announced, we registered.
“We arrived early today, ready to spend a full day here doing sports. What encouraged us to attend is the nature of the various events – visiting the different Education City locations, walking in the open air, and enjoying the large, green spaces.”
Katharina Goncalves, a student and one of the participants in the Women and Girls Football Initiative, explained how excited she was to participate in the competition with her teammates, going on to say it was a chance to exercise outside, in the fresh air. “It is really amazing to play football in the Education City Stadium, which will be part of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™,” she said. “This is an experience we will never forget.”
Goncalves also said that she was looking forward to exploring Education City after the tournament, and taking part in other activities.
National Sport Day also saw QF hold a Car-Free Day at Education City, as part of its efforts to drive sustainability in Qatar, with visitors walking, cycling, and using scooters as well as using QF’s sustainable transport network, the Education City Tram.
Nour Al-Imadi said she was happy to be back at Education City for National Sport Day. Explaining how special the event was this year as it was also QF’s Car-Free Day, she said: “It is a great idea to move away from cars and try new ways of transportation, which are more sustainable and also more fun.
“The scooters provided my children with the opportunity to explore Education City and enjoy the beautiful atmosphere, which helps to promote healthy lifestyles.”
Al-Imadi went on to say that she was looking forward to participating in some of QF’s other activities – such as yoga and Zumba – explaining that: “Just being in this place is pleasure.”
Kholoud Al-Jassim, a player in the Qatar women's national football team, and another participant in the Women and Girls Football Initiative, praised Education City’s unique environment as well as QF for organizing events for women. “We have experienced a new sporting opportunity at QF,” she said.
“In addition to the diversity of events, there is the concept of sustainability, which we feel we are part of today. Thanks to QF’s Car-Free Day, we used alternative means of transportation.”
