As Qatar is gearing up its preparations to mark the National Sport Day (NSD), the new National Sport Day website www.sportday.qa was launched recently, before the prestigious event on Feb. 12, 2013. Many government and non-government organizations, along with private sector institutions, sport clubs and federations intensified their organizational effort to stage multiple-sport activities for nationals and residents during the National Sport Day. The new National Sport Day website may be accessed at www.sportday.qa and is available in English and Arabic. The new website represents an interface containing all the events and activities scheduled for the National Sport Day, featuring new information, photographs and reports about the significance of this occasion, as Qatar is one of the few countries worldwide to dedicate a specific day for Sport and allocated an official public holiday for this reason. Many sectors in Qatar are supporting the National Sport Day and they have formed specific committees to steer and supervise the activities and events on Feb. 12, 2013. The NSD is an annual sport event held on Tuesday in the second week of February. The NSD is a national event upon a Supreme Decree issued by Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Heir Apparent and the President of Qatar Olympic Committee. The NSD and the Schools Olympic Program (SOP) are jointly aiming to increase the community culture on sports, as well as to encourage students to make sport an integral part of their life. The NSD activities will take place at several locations in Doha and other locations around Qatar, including the Cornish, Aspire Zone, Al-Rafe street and Barzan Olympic Park. These activities will reflect the importance of sports in the daily life of citizens and will have great role in promoting a healthy lifestyle. Everyone may access the national Sport Day website, in order to get information related to the NSD across the country. Ministries and other public and private sector entities are encouraged to advertise. — SG
