Doha: The National Sports Day is set to kick off on Tuesday, with participation from a wide range of segments of society as part of Qatar's leading initiative to dedicate a day of sports for the nation, during which diverse community groups engage with the goal of promoting sports as a lasting, healthy lifestyle.
According to Qatar News Agency, the organization of these sporting activities comes in implementation of the Amiri decision issued in 2011, designating the second Tuesday of February every year as a Sports Day for the nation, with the aim of encouraging and promoting a healthy lifestyle as an official paid holiday.
On this day, public parks, sports fields, and beaches across Qatar transform into a large, open arena hosting hundreds of free sports and fitness events, including walking, running, team games, physical activity, and more, all aimed at promoting a healthy and active lifestyle for everyone.
Government ministries, public agencies, and private sector companies also organize sports activities for their employees and the general public. The events range from soccer, basketball, tennis, taekwondo, cycling, and swimming, along with numerous free physical activities and recreational competitions open to all.
This occasion provides an opportunity to bring different segments of society together through sports, based on principles such as teamwork, unity, inclusion, participation, and overall physical fitness. Certain government and private entities also host activities for people with disabilities and senior citizens.
The Sports Day 2026 Committee announced the details of the new edition under the theme "I Chose Sports", aimed at reinforcing awareness of the importance of engaging in physical activity as a lifestyle for sustainable health. This year's program includes a diverse range of sports, recreational, and cultural activities, organized by government and private entities and held in public parks and sports facilities, ensuring a broad distribution of events across the country and encouraging participation from all community groups.
The Qatar Sports For All Federation revealed its 2026 calendar, featuring over 800 community sports events. During a press conference, Executive Director of the Federation, Abdullah Al Dosari, highlighted the major achievements of 2025, noting that the Federation organized numerous community sports activities involving all members of society-children, youth, women, and senior citizens-reaching a total of 215,506 participants.
He added that activity locations covered the entire country, from north to south, central Doha, and westward to Dukhan and Al-Jumailiya, including public parks, youth centers, and sports clubs, suggesting that the "365 Days of Activity" program saw 35,000 participants attending 1,460 fitness sessions supervised by 36 qualified coaches. At the Farjan football fields, 58,751 individuals registered across 16 fields, while walking and running participants at the same fields reached 13,800. School events saw 22,259 participants, and community event participation increased to 40,593 across more than 52 locations.
Participation in sports tournaments reached 6,984, while community running events grew to 38,696 participants, including 8,000 women across 59 races throughout the year. School sports activities also expanded, with 91 events involving 22,259 students across 60 schools. Meanwhile, 74 sports championships welcomed a total of 6,984 participants, reflecting strong engagement in competitive events.