The discussion featured Managing Editor of Al Sharq newspaper Abdulaziz Al Maarefi ; Executive Director of the Qatar Sports For All Federation and member of the State’s National Sport Day Committee Abdullah Al Dosari; and was moderated by media figure Hussein Al Kathiri.
Doha, Qatar: The Qatar Press Center marked 15 years of the State’s National Sport Day with a panel discussion titled “National Sport Day: Results and Legacy,” held as part of its Press Club activities.
The session reviewed the achievements of the initiative since its launch in 2011 and examined its long-term impact on promoting a culture of sport, healthy lifestyles and broad community participation in physical activity.
The event featured Managing Editor of Al Sharq newspaper Abdulaziz Al Maarefi; Executive Director of the Qatar Sports For All Federation and member of the State’s National Sport Day Committee Abdullah Al Dosari; and was moderated by media figure Hussein Al Kathiri. The discussion drew strong attendance from journalists, media professionals and sports enthusiasts.
Opening the session, Al Kathiri highlighted the significance of National Sport Day as a pioneering national initiative launched in 2011 by Amir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, which designated the second Tuesday of February each year as an official paid holiday dedicated to sport. Over time, he noted, the initiative has evolved from a single annual event into an integral component of Qatari social culture, reinforcing sport as a daily lifestyle choice rather than a one-day activity.
Al Maarefi described Qatar’s experience as globally distinctive, emphasising that granting employees a paid holiday to engage in sport reflects the country’s commitment to enhancing quality of life. He attributed the initiative’s success to advanced infrastructure, including modern sports facilities, public parks and dedicated walking and running tracks distributed across the country, ensuring accessibility for all segments of society. He added that the Qatari model has attracted regional and international attention as a comprehensive, sustainable national project.
For his part, Al Dosari underlined that National Sport Day embodies the leadership’s vision of prioritising public health. Participation has grown significantly, with the number of events rising from more than 200 in 2024 to nearly 300 in 2026, involving 44 entities. In 2025 alone, the federation organized activities attracting 215,506 participants across the country, including 6,984 athletes in 74 championships and 38,696 participants in community running races. Women’s participation has also increased notably, with around 8,000 women taking part in 59 races, while schools hosted 91 events across 60 institutions.
The speakers emphasised that the initiative’s legacy is reflected in rising sport participation rates and growing public awareness of physical activity’s health benefits.
They also stressed the importance of inclusivity, with future plans focusing on integrating individuals with obesity and people with disabilities into community sports programs.
Fifteen years on, Qatar’s National Sport Day stands as a model of how a national initiative can evolve into a sustainable social movement—placing human well-being at the heart of a broader development vision and fostering a healthier, more active society.
