Alkass English
National Sports Day is set to take place on Tuesday, with participation from a broad cross-section of society, as part of Qatar’s flagship initiative to dedicate a national day to sport. The occasion aims to encourage individuals and communities to adopt sports and physical activity as a sustainable and healthy way of life.
The organization of National Sports Day activities follows the Amiri Decision issued in 2011, which designated the second Tuesday of February each year as an official National Sports Day and a paid public holiday. The initiative was established to promote physical activity and encourage a healthy lifestyle among all members of society.
On this day, public parks, sports fields, and beaches across Qatar are transformed into large, open venues hosting hundreds of free sports and fitness activities. These include walking, running, team sports, and various physical exercises, all designed to promote an active and healthy lifestyle for everyone.
Government ministries, public institutions, and private sector companies also organize sports activities for their employees and the wider public. The events cover a wide range of disciplines, including football, basketball, tennis, taekwondo, cycling, and swimming, in addition to numerous recreational competitions and free physical activities open to all participants.
National Sports Day provides an opportunity to bring together different segments of society through sport, based on values such as teamwork, unity, inclusion, participation, and overall physical well-being. Several government and private entities also organize dedicated activities for people with disabilities and senior citizens.
The National Sports Day 2026 Committee has announced the details of this year’s edition under the theme “I Chose Sports”, which aims to reinforce awareness of the importance of physical activity as a lifelong habit for sustainable health.
This year’s program includes a wide variety of sports, recreational, and cultural activities organized by government and private entities and hosted in public parks and sports facilities. The events are distributed across the country to ensure broad accessibility and encourage participation from all community groups.
Meanwhile, the Qatar Sports For All Federation has unveiled its 2026 calendar, which features more than 800 community sports events. During a press conference, the Federation’s Executive Director, Abdullah Al Dosari, highlighted the major achievements of 2025, noting that the Federation organized numerous community sports activities involving children, youth, women, and senior citizens, reaching a total of 215,506 participants.
Al Dosari explained that activity locations covered the entire country, from the northern and southern regions to central Doha, as well as western areas such as Dukhan and Al-Jumailiya. These activities were held in public parks, youth centers, and sports clubs. He added that the “365 Days of Activity” program attracted 35,000 participants across 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 activities at the same venues recorded 13,800 participants. School-based events saw the participation of 22,259 students, while community events expanded to reach 40,593 participants 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 held throughout the year. School sports activities also expanded, with 91 events involving 22,259 students across 60 schools. In addition, 74 sports championships welcomed a total of 6,984 participants, reflecting strong engagement in competitive sports across the community.