Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie with other officials participating in a sport activity organised by the Ministry at Umm Seneem Park yesterday.
The Ministry of Municipality represented by Public Parks Department and Municipalities provided over 100 public parks with sporting equipment and fitness boxes to mark National Sport Day (NSD).
Minister of Municipality H E Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie participated in a number of sport activities organised by the Ministry at Umm Al Seneem Park.
The Minister with officials walked on jogging tracks of the park which is the largest air-conditioned tracks of the world. He also participated in sport and fitness activities which were organised at the park in coordination with a number of entities.
Over 100 public parks which were provided by the Ministry of Municipality to citizens and expatriates for NSD celebration received a huge number of visitors. They participated in various sport and fitness activities such as football, volleyball, basketball, tennis, table tennis, jogging and running among others.
Some parks also offered sporting equipment and other facilities for people with special needs. The parks with games for people with disabilities include Laqtifiya Park, Rawdat Al Khail Park, Al Gharrafa Park, Umm Al Seneem Park and Al Daayen Park.
Games for people with disabilities will also be provided in parks that will open soon, such as Rawdat Al Hamama Park, Al Wakra Park and many Al Furjan parks. As many as 30 public parks offered football, volleyball, basketball and tennis to the visitors. Jogging tracks were available in 26 parks. A total of 22 public parks provided sporting equipment. Five parks were equipped with fitness boxes. Cycling tracks were available in 12 parks and four of them were dedicated for children.
Three parks were having table tennis, two parks chess and two parks air-conditioned jogging tracks.
Speaking to The Peninsula Director of Public Parks Department Eng. Muhammad Ali Al Khouri said that public parks which are equipped with latest sporting and fitness equipment attracted a large number of visitors for celebrating NSD.
“The NSD was announced by the State to encourage people to do exercise round the year utilising the facilities provided by public parks,” said Al Khouri. He said that the NSD aims at influencing the behaviour people to adopt healthy lifestyle.
“Public Parks Department provided parks almost all areas across the country enabling the residents of the respective localities to avail the sport services to make them fit and healthy,” said Al Khouri.
He said that the timing of public parks was extended from early morning to late night to receive a maximum number of visitors who can visit the parks in their free time.
“Public parks witnessed a large turnout on NSD due to pleasant weather.”
However, he said that public parks are available which will receive the visitors round the year. “Public Parks Department provided various types of sporting equipment for visitors and readied jogging and cycling tracks on NSD,” said Al Khouri.
