CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: DR. KHALID BIN MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Views /Editorial

Promoting a healthy nation

Published: 08 Feb 2022 - 09:23 am | Last Updated: 26 Sep 2025 - 06:18 am

The 11th edition of the Qatar National Sport Day themed ‘Sports is Life’ marks a significant milestone in the country’s drive towards a sustainable and healthy society. The Qatar National Vision 2030 clearly states its ambition to promote a physically and mentally healthy population.

The first National Sport Day was held in 2012, in which sports of all kinds are practised in a unique initiative to Qatar. This year’s celebration is significant as Qatar prepares for the FIFA World Cup in November.

Sport has become a necessity in the lives of individuals, especially combating non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, stress, and obesity, which are considered a gateway to severe conditions. Research suggests that many adults spend more than seven hours a day sitting, at work, on transportation, or in their spare time. The study also buttressed the significant impact of inactivity on human health.

An Arab Health report stated that of the 149, 600 deaths in the GCC during 2015, nearly 73% were due to NCDs. The four major NCDs – cardiovascular diseases, cancer, respiratory diseases, and diabetes – accounted for more than half of the deaths in each GCC country.

Hence, the NSD provides a suitable platform to sensitise society to engage in physical activities, healthy diet, and interactive lifestyles. During this day, the ministries, other government agencies, and public bodies and institutions sports organise events for their employees and their families to participate in achieving awareness of the importance of sport and its role in the lives of individuals and societies.

NSD has become a popular day among Qatar citizens and residents. This has also been made easy thanks to the world-class sports infrastructure across the country, including cycling paths, greens parks, and calisthenics parks.

However, due to the ongoing pandemic, sporting activities will strictly be held outdoors to stem the spread of the virus. Restrictions include having no more than 15 fully-vaccinated people participating in team sports, while individual sports can include up to five unvaccinated people, including children under 12. Unvaccinated individuals must take rapid antigen tests within 24 hours before any activity to prove they are free of COVID-19.

However, the general public must ensure they adhere to health procedures, especially social distance and masks. Vulnerable groups, including persons over the age of 60, people with chronic diseases, and persons with disabilities, should not be encouraged to attend activities if it is open for the public, for their safety, and should endeavour to participate in virtual activities.