comdr wailer: QF Community burns a million Sports Day calories

Thursday, February 16, 2012

QF Community burns a million Sports Day calories | Qatar Business ...

Posted by Qatar is BooMING on Feb 16, 2012 in NGO, Sports | 0 comments

Tuesday marked Qatar?s first National Sports Day, an annual event created to promote active and healthy living nationwide. Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development (QF) hosted fun-filled activities to mark the holiday, and it is estimated that an amazing one million calories were burned as participants got into the sporting spirit. That?s the equivalent of a whopping 1,250 fast food meals.

Events were held at four different locations on QF grounds, with games designed for all age groups and interests. To encourage a healthier diet, nutritious meals were on offer to all visitors.

Starting at QF?s Recreation Centre, activities revolved around exercise and fun workouts intended to be incorporated into the participants? daily routines beyond National Sports Day. Contestants battled one another in swimming races, aerobics, spinning and Zumba classes, and even cycling and cricket tournaments were on offer.

The Student Center organized a number of table tennis, badminton, volleyball, and billiards tournaments, with prizes awarded to the winners.

Meanwhile, QF?s grassed outdoor pitches offered the chance to change pace and participate in a comical series of relay races. A ball-between-the-knees game and a balloon pop relay raised laughter from both competitors and onlookers.?And Al Shaqab, QF?s equestrian venue, threw open its doors to visitors, offering Arabian horse shows and horse-drawn carriage rides for all.

?I am proud to say that the National Sports Day event held at Qatar Foundation this year was a remarkable success. Not only did the series of exciting activities allow us to promote the importance of wellbeing across QF?s community, but they provided us with a great opportunity to bond outside of the teaching and research environments,? said Dr. Fathy Saoud, President of Qatar Foundation.

QF Radio celebrated the day by hosting a sports themed phone-in competition. Callers were offered the chance to attend an FC Barcelona game at their famous Camp Nou Stadium.

The five winners? names will be drawn by Abdul Aziz Al Oubaidly, the youngest Qatari athlete to compete in the 2011 Arab Games, during a special live program this evening, beginning at 5.30pm. Tune in to QF Radio on 93.7FM, and check out the QF Facebook page and Twitter feed, to find out if you are one of the chosen few.

On its mission to support Qatar in its transformation into a knowledge economy, QF strives to promote healthy living nationwide.