SOP celebrates World Sports Day

On the occasion of the World Sports Day on June 25 the Schools Olympic Program is organizing today a sport day for the community and schools. The aim behind this event is to encourage people to practice sports at home, in public places, or fitness clubs.

SOP will lead an hour walk in Aspire Park at 6.45 pm calling students, parents and all organizations to join the program to mark this occasion. The program governed by Qatar Olympic Committee is celebrating World Sports Day as part of QOC motto “Sports for Life”.

SOP is an annual event held by QOC, the Supreme Education Council and other government entities. Students compete in nine sport disciplines among which four are team sports: Basketball, Volleyball, Handball, and football and five are individual sports: swimming, table tennis, gymnastics, athletics and fencing. A Paralympics day is organized for athletes with special needs to be engaged in a healthy lifestyle.

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SOP contributes to the implementation of the pillars of Qatar National Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 2011-2016 which both state that Qatar’s youth must adopt a healthy lifestyle. The program has seen a great increase of participation in terms of schools and students due to the commitment and endless efforts of the schools and community.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Mohamed Al Fadhala SOP Executive Director said: “Through the World Sports Day celebration, we are highly committed to spread a sport culture in our local community. We can proudly say that Qatar is sending for the first time three female athletes out of fifteen to take part in 2012 Olympics. This proves how keen is our leadership to engage people in sports.”

The Schools Olympic Program saw a 400 percent increase in student participation in its fifth year. Launched in 2007 with 7,000 students, enrollment reached over 20,000 students from 370 schools in the 2011- 2012 program.