The stage is set for marking sixth National Sport Day with traditional fervour and hundreds of sporting activities have been planned not only by the state organisations but also private companies. Among them two new sports ‘Nordic Walking’ and ‘Kendo’ are likely to amuse the residents for first time in the country.
Nordic Walking is a version of walking with the help of walking-poles that involves the whole body and this Scandinavian walk can be enjoyed both by athletes as sport and non-athletes as a health-promoting physical activity as it burns a large number of calories and helps achieve total body fitness. Aspire Zone Foundation has incorporated “Nordic Walking” into its activities this year.
World-renowned coaches from Aspetar – one of Aspire Zone Foundation’s member organisations – will demonstrate the sport to visitors above the age of 18 who are interested in trying it. The demonstrations will start from 11am on National Sport Day in front of Aspetar’s West Wing.
In collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Doha, “Kendo”, another new sport for the locals, will be demonstrated to visitors and they can try it out under the supervision of highly trained professionals, starting at 9am on pitch 10. Kendo is a modern Japanese martial art, which descended from swordsmanship and uses bamboo swords and protective armour.
Along Aspire Zone that will remain centre point of sporting activities on NSD, Katara has planned as many as 80 sports activities.
According to Ahmed Al Sayed, Katara’s Deputy General Manager who also chairs Katara’s NSD organising committee, more than 100,000 people are expected to visit Katara on Tuesday to take part in over 80 National Sport Day (NSD) activities.
The Emiri Decree No. 80 of 2011 designated the second Tuesday of February of each year shall be a Sports Day for the State, when everyone is encouraged to participate in sporting activities with colleagues and family. The first National Sport Day was held in 2012 and was designated for sporting endeavors by the citizens of Qatar. The day’s main purpose is to promote sports and to educate the local population on ways to reduce health risks associated with an inactive lifestyle, such as coronary heart disease and diabetes.
Asian Town is organizing a number of sports activities like cricket match, volley ball match, basket ball tournament, marathon race, tug of war competition and march past. Asian Town is likely to attract thousands of expats particularly workers belonging to India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Qatar University (QU) is also set to mark the National Sport Day on Tuesday with several events including a paragliding show by a team from QU Air Sports Club. Besides taking part in sporting events, participants will also have the opportunity to get free testing of body composition, vital capacity, upper body strength, lower body power, core body muscular endurance, and agility.
At Aspire Zone, mothers and daughters seeking a private and comfortable space can participate in women-only activities that take place on the indoor pitches of Aspire Dome from 10am until 1pm.
The Oxygen Park at Education City will host QF’s NSD activities. The residents of Al Wakrah and Al Khor will also enjoy a number of sporting activities like running races, a tug of war, football matches, family walkathon, children’s cycling races etc.
