National Sports Day is a public holiday in Qatar that provides an opportunity for the residents of the country to engage in a wide range of sporting activities. This unique holiday was established in 2012 following a decree by the Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani. The goal of the event is to emphasize the role of sports in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and to encourage the Qatari national community to adopt physically active habits.
This highly anticipated holiday is observed on the second Tuesday in February each year. The government, private entities, social organizations, and communities in Qatar organize various sports-related activities, including tournaments, demonstrations, and competitions for a wide range of sports disciplines. Activities also include physical fitness tests, and outdoor field trips, promoting a culture of physical activity and health-consciousness among the residents.
National Sports Day is not merely about sports and exercise. It's a day that brings together all the different communities living in Qatar - locals and expatriates alike - to celebrate fitness and health. It is also a platform to educate individuals on the importance of a balanced diet coupled with regular exercise, to highlight major health risks such as obesity, diabetes, and heart disease, and to promote the practice of healthy lifestyles to prevent these diseases.