The biggest annual sport festival in Qatar saw thousands of people descend on Aspire Zone Foundation’s (AZF) unique outdoor and indoor facilities to explore and enjoy the wide range of activities offered by the beating heart of sport in Qatar and the place where Qatar’s Asian Cup players learnt to be champions.
AZF’s National Sport Day (NSD) celebrations were attended by more than 30,000 people of all ages. Qatar’s community members, families and children enjoyed 30 sporting events across Aspire’s world-class venues: outdoor Football Pitch 10, Aspire Dome and Aspire Park. Every corner of Aspire Zone was occupied with a sporting event.
Qatar’s NSD at Aspire begun with the famous Fun Run. The starting whistle was blown by Director General of Aspire Logistics, Abdullah Nasser Al Naemi in the presence of AZF’s CEO, Mohammed Khalifa Al-Suwaidi who was accompanied by of hundreds of running enthusiasts. The Fun Run covered an area of 3km around Khalifa International Stadium.
Talking to The Peninsula, Al Anoud Al Misnad, member of the NSD organizing committee, said: “This year I am glad to see the increase in number of people participating in different activities being held at Aspire Park. This indicates people are approaching towards healthy lifestyle and adopting good habits in their daily hectic life routine.”
“This year we have brought ‘Sambo’ Russian martial art, a new Russian sport which is a big hit on with the community. Different gyms and clubs are participating with us, we have placed stages for their Zumba performances with participants. We have indoor activities for ladies only and team building activities with Aspire Academy,” she added.
Following the Fun Run, Aspire Zone’s staff participated in a walk around Aspire’s lake. On the occasion of NSD, CEO of Aspire Zone Foundation, Mohammad Khalifa Al-Suwaidi said: “This year, we can clearly see the wisdom of the nation’s leaders in dedicating a national day for sport. February is now linked to sport victories after the amazing achievement of our national football team, which was of course led by Aspire academy graduates.”
Chairman of AZF’s NSD Organizing Committee, Nasser Abdullah Al Hajiri said: “ Every year, Aspire Zone invites families and friends to enjoy the sport day and try a new sporting experience. In such a way, Aspire Zone can fulfill one of its strategic objectives which goes in line with Qatar National Vision 2030.”
The Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Russian Federation Fahad bin Mohammed Al Attiyah said: “The introduction of Sambo sport during our National Sport Day is further testament to the value of cultural exchange between Qatar and Russia. We are pleased to have seen our communities actively engage in this unique aspect of Russian sport and look forward to continued collaboration between our two nations.”
