8 February 2022
As part of the celebrations of the State of Qatar’s Sports Day, the Embassy of Qatar in Pretoria organized a sports day event at the University of Pretoria led by H.E. Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari, the Qatar diplomats, all of the employees in addition to Diplomatic guests and Pretoria community.
The Qatar Sports Day celebrations comes just before Qatar welcomes soccer fans from across the globe as the host country for the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.
On 2 December 2010, Qatar won the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, thus becoming the first Arab nation to host the tournament.
The Diplomatic Corps, Pretoria community, SAFA President Mr. Danny Jordan, sports fraternity Legends and friends of Qatar came out in their numbers transcending cultural differences and brought not only their Excellencies and Diplomatic Corps but also the community of Pretoria together.
The participants of all ages gathered at the University of Pretoria sports stadium, where they played different sports activities ranged from football volleyball, tug of war to Karate, and other recreational games and sports activities regardless of the wet weather.
Qatar National Sport Day is national holiday in which all people come together to embrace and promote healthier lifestyles.
Qatar celebrates National Sport Day annually, on the second Tuesday of February, the first National Sport Day was held in 2012, It followed a decree issued in December 2011 by HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the
Deputy Emir, and Heir Apparent.
The decree stated that the second Tuesday in February would be Qatar’s National Sports Day.
Qatar is one of the few nations to dedicate a day for sports.
Asked His Excellency Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari the purpose of National Sport Day he said” the day’s main purpose is to promote history of National Sports Day and a healthy lifestyle among Qatar’s population.
Celebrating the National Sports Day highlights, the role that sport plays a factor in creating a healthy community at both physical and
psychological levels. The day is part of the Qatar National Vision 2030 initiative said Ambassador Tariq Al-Ansari
Football is the most popular game in Qatar, playing and spectating. On a local level, Qatar has a vibrant football following, with local first and second clubs and associations throughout the country.
Indeed the passion of sports continues to improve peoples to peoples relationships between different countries, this was witnessed by The Diplomatic Informer Magazine at the Embassy of Qatar Sports Day.
BY: S. Novela, The Diplomatic Informer Magazine SA
Photos : The Diplomatic Informer Magazine SA
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