Doha / Information Office / February 13

Diplomatic, consular and representative missions of the State of Qatar abroad organized various sporting events on the occasion of Qatar Sport Day, amid great participation and interest.

In Kuwait, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Kuwait organized events to celebrate the State's Sports Day. The event was attended by HE Qatar's Ambassador to Kuwait Bandar bin Mohammed Al Attiyah, HE Military Attache of the State of Qatar in Kuwait Major General Ibrahim bin Saad Al Kubaisi, HE Director General of the Kuwait Public Authority for Youth Abdulrahman Badah Al Mutairi, and HE CEO of Ooredoo Kuwait Sheikh Mohammed Bin Abdullah Al-Thani, in addition to members of the diplomatic mission and its staff, a number of Qatari nationals and representatives of Qatari institutions in Kuwait.

In Amman, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Jordan organized a number of sporting events to celebrate Sports Day, with the participation of Acting Charge d'affaires at the Embassy of the State of Qatar to Jordan Abdulaziz bin Mohammed Al Sada, the diplomatic staff, embassy staff and students. The events included holding football, basketball, and Ping-Pong matches.

In Valletta, the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Malta organized a sports event to mark Qatar's national sports day. The program included a wide variety of sporting activities.

In San Salvador, the Embassy of the State of Qatar organized a sports event with the participation of Charg d'affaires of the State of Qatar to El Salvador Tariq Othman Al Othman, and a number of members of the diplomatic corps and Embassy staff. The program, which was held on a farm 1,300 meters above sea level, included various sports activities including horseback riding, climbing, climbing and football.

In Mumbai, the Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Mumbai organized events on the occasion of the State Sports Day. The event was attended by HE the Counsul General Saif bin Ali Al Mohannadi, members of the mission, some heads of Arab and foreign missions, and Qatari national companies operating in Mumbai.

In Tehran, the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the Islamic Republic of Iran organized events to celebrate Sports Day. The event was attended by HE Qatar's ambassador to Iran Mohammed bin Hamad Al Hajri, a number of diplomatic missions in Tehran and embassy staff. The event had a large number of sporting activities such as football, walking, and Bowling.

In Asuncion, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Paraguay organized events to mark Sports Day. Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of the State of Qatar to Paraguay Saleh Nasser Al Ghani, made a speech in which he stressed the importance of sports activities and how Qatar was the first to choose a day of sport to promote sport with its ethical, humanitarian and health benefits.

In Quito, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Ecuador organized a wide variety of sports day event, that included football and basketball among other things. The events were attended by HE the Ambassador Hassan Ibrahim Al Malki and the staff of the embassy.

In Chisinau, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Moldova held a number of sports events that included football, volleyball, and tennis.

In Bishkek the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Kyrgyzstan celebrated the national sports day. HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Kyrgyzstan Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti, diplomats, and staff in the embassy attended the events which included football matches.

In Singapore, the embassy celebrated the national sports day. HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar in Singapore Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Sulaiti participated in the events, along with diplomats, head of Arab and foreign diplomatic missions, and staff members of the embassy. The events included Bowling among other sports. 

In Tbilisi, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Georgia organized an event to mark the National Sport Day. Diplomats and embassy staff took part in the event which included various sports activities.

In Bamako, Qatar's Embassy in Mali hosted an event on the occasion of the National Sport Day. The event was attended by HE Qatar's Ambassador to Mali Ahmed bin Abdulrahman Al Sunaidi, Mali's Minister of Sports Jean Claude Sidibe, heads and representatives of diplomatic missions accredited to Mali and citizens.

In Istanbul, the Consulate General of the State of Qatar organized an event on the occasion of the Sport Day attended by diplomats and consular officials. The activities included a football game. The activities included football.

In Tokyo, Qatar's Embassy in Japan organized activities to mark the National Sport Day. The event was attended by the Acting Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in Japan Abdullah bin Jassim Al Zeyara, Second Secretary of the Embassy Rashid bin Mubarak Al Khater and staff. The activities included several sports activities, including walking.

In Los Angeles, the Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Los Angeles organized an event on the occasion of the National Sports Day. The event was attended by HE Consul General of the Qatari Embassy in Los Angeles Khalid bin Yousuf Al Sada, and diplomats.

The event included football for Qatari citizens in Los Angeles. Hundreds of children from Los Angeles schools were introduced to Qatar's culture on the Sport Day and its importance in educating the community about the importance of exercising sport in daily life.

In Baku, the Embassy of Qatar in Azerbaijan organized an event on the occasion of the Sport Day. The event was attended by Charge d'affaires of the Qatari Embassy Khalid bin Mohammed Al Malki, Third Secretary abdullah bin Ghanim Al Hudaifi and staff. The activities included football.

In Djibouti, Qatar's Embassy to Djibouti organized activities to mark the Sport Day. The event was attended by Acting Charge d'affaires Rashid bin Salem Al Buainain, staff and guests. The activities included walking.

In Dar es Salaam, the Embassy of Qatar in Tanzania organized an event on the occasion of the Sport Day. The event was attended by Acting Charge d'affaires Abdul Hadi bin Saeed Al Mansouri, official in charge of sports affairs at the National Sports Council and representative of the Minister of Information, Culture, Youth and Sports in Tanzania, representative of the Embassy of the sultanate of Oman Ahmed bin Ali Baheshwan. The activities included football.

In Kathmandu, Qatar's Embassy in Nepal organized an event on the occasion of the Sport Day. The event was attended by Acting Charge d'affaires Jassim Saleh Ali Al Jaber, representatives of the diplomatic missions and Qatari institutions in Nepal. The event included football for gyms and aerobic exercises.

In Zagreb, the Embassy of Qatar in Croatia organized an event on the occasion of the National Sport Day included various sport activities.

In Washington, the Embassy of the State of Qatar to the United States of America hosted an event to mark the National Sport Day in FedExField Stadium in cooperation with the Redskins team and the Redskins Charitable Foundation.

A large number of school students of Maryland and Washington participated in the event which was also attended by Team President of the Washington Redskins Bruce Allen and a number of current players, including Vernon Davis, Josh Norman and Chris Thompson, as well as other veteran players and members of the team's executive committee and a crowd of personalities involved.

In a speech on the occasion, Team President of the Washington Redskins Bruce Allen praised Qatar's initiative in devoting a special day for sports and for its support for all sports activities that are concerned with the formation of the new generation.

Allen highlighted the role of the Redskins Charitable Foundation, noting that everybody is engaging in this day to support sports, health and wellness. He expressed pride for being able to help children from a large number of schools in the counties around Washington to adopt a new and healthier lifestyle.

On the other hand, Allen expressed admiration of the designs of the stadiums of Qatar 2022 World Cup after he saw examples displayed in the inner hall of FedExField. He noted that members of the executive committee are also impressed by the designs.

For his part, HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani thanked all officials, sports leaderships and students for taking part in the National Sport Day of the State of Qatar and the activities organized by the Qatari Embassy on the occasion.

HE the Ambassador underlined that Qatar's decision to devote a national day for sports in 2011 stems from its belief in the strength and effectiveness of sports in gathering people and its positive impact on the quality of life of individuals.

HE the Ambassador added that the State of Qatar is proud to be among the few countries around the world and the first in the MENA region to announce a National Sport Day.

HE Ambassador Sheikh Meshal bin Hamad Al-Thani said that sports is at the forefront and heart of Qatar National Vision 2030 and the National Development Strategy aiming at consolidating its national identity, investing in human capital and building a flexible society guided by values inherent in sports such as commitment, work ethics, self-respect, honesty and the pursuit of self-excellence.

In the National Sport Day, people across the State of Qatar exercise all kinds of sports in open areas with friends and family. "It is a day when we embody our habits and establish a new and healthy life," His Excellency added.

He noted that sport is a factor of unity which has proved to be a powerful tool for promoting social ties and ideals of solidarity and brotherhood, tolerance, social integration and economic development.

HE the Ambassador said that the right to access and participate in sports has long been recognized in international conventions and therefore, given the wide spread of sport, unparalleled fame and the foundations of positive values, the United Nations recognized the International Day of Sport for Development and Peace on April 6 each year, to underline its contribution to the achievement of the United Nations goals for development and peace. Based on this fact, the State of Qatar celebrates the National Sport Day with great enthusiasm, and is very excited to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Doha.

For his part, HE Deputy Chairman of the Qatari Mission to the United States Dr. Hamad Mohammed Hussein Al Muftah stressed the importance of the National Sport Day as it reflects Qatar's attention to sports and the youth.

He noted that the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington celebrated the Sport day in cooperation with the Redskins team and the Redskins Charitable Foundation, with the participation of more than 500 children and students from different schools surrounding Washington.

Stemming from the public diplomacy initiative and the sports diplomacy, the Embassy of Qatar in Washington participates with various organizations and institutions across the United State to mark Qatar's National Sport Day. The Embassy will organize many activities and events to keep pace with the State's preparations to host many tournaments in the future, most importantly the 2022 World Cup. These occasions will provide a great opportunity for partnership with the local community and introducing the culture and traditions of the State of Qatar, HE Dr. Hamad Mohammed Hussein Al Muftah said.

The students who attended the activities of the Sport Day took part in various sports and physical exercises. At the end of the day, a number of students with special needs joined the activities accompanied by sports specialists to help them perform a number of games and skills.

The event was also an opportunity for students to learn about Qatar's culture. Through a special pavilion, the students discovered Souq Waqif which tourists visit to learn about Qatar's heritage and culture. Qatar International Foundation, for its part, held a pavilion to introduce the audience how to learn the Arabic language.

In New York, the Consulate General of the State of Qatar organized sports events on the occasion of the Sports Day with the participation of HE Consul General of the State of Qatar in New York Nasser Allenqawi, the diplomatic staff and employees. The program included a football match.

In Pretoria, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of South Africa organized various events on the occasion of the Sport Day attended by HE the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to South Africa Abdullah Hussein Al Jaber.

The program, which was organized by the embassy to celebrate the Sport Day, covered various activities including football and tug-of-war games.

In Tirana, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Albania organized sporting events on the occasion of the Sport Day in cooperation with the Tirana Municipality and Qatar Charity in Albania.

HE the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Albania Ali bin Hamad Al Marri, HE Mayor of Tirana Erion Veliaj, a number of Albanian officials, ambassadors and representatives of Arab and foreign missions accredited to Albania, and a number of Albanian businessmen and journalists participated in the events.

The program included several sports activities such as football, basketball and cycling.

In the Hague, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Kingdom of the Netherlands held sports events on the occasion of the Sport Day, with the participation of charge d'affaires of the Embassy of Qatar in the Netherlands Ali bin Nasser Al Ahbabi, diplomatic staff and embassy staff.

The program covered various sports activities including walking, running and tennis.

In Barcelona, the Consulate General of the State of Qatar organized various sporting events at the Camp Nou Stadium on the occasion of the Sport Day, with the participation of HE Consul General of the State of Qatar in Barcelona Issa bin Jaber Al Kuwari.

In Mbabane, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Kingdom of Eswatini organized a number of sport activities on the occasion of the Sport Day, with the participation of charge d'affaires of the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Kingdom of Eswatini Ahmed bin Tajer Mohammed Al Sada and embassy staff.

In Bucharest, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Romania held various events on the occasion of the Sport Day with the participation of the diplomatic staff and embassy staff. The program organized by the embassy included a football match.

In Panama, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Panama held sporting events and various activities on the occasion of the Sport Day.

In Porto-Novo, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Benin organized sports events on the occasion of the Sport Day with the participation of the diplomatic and administrative staff of the Embassy. The program included a football match.

In Nicosia, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Cyprus organized various sporting events on the occasion of the Sport Day attended by HE the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to Cyprus Sultan bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud, diplomatic staff and embassy staff.

In Belgrade, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Serbia held sports events on the occasion of the Sport Day, including competitions in bowling.

HE Qatar's Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia Sheikh Mubarak bin Fahad Al-Thani and local staff of the mission participated in the events.

In Montevideo, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in the Republic of Uruguay organized sporting events on the occasion of the Sport Day, including a football match.

In Karachi, the Consulate General of the State of Qatar in Karachi, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, organized sporting events on the occasion of the Sport Day.

The event was attended by HE Consul General of the State of Qatar in Karachi Mishal Mohammed Ali Al Ansari, diplomats, administrators and consular staff.

The events included a football match and some light exercise along with a discussion about the importance of sport in daily life and its positive effects on health.