Get off the Couch, it's Qatar National Sports Day!

It’s February! Time for candy hearts, love letters, cupid’s arrows and of course, QATAR NATIONAL SPORTS DAY!

No, it’s not very romantic. But we think it’s a pretty big deal.

Think what you will of the Qatar/FIFA/World Cup/Team Handball situation-but along with Qatar’s use of sport as a platform to operate on the global stage, open doors to finance, media, diplomacy, property and tourism-which are positive things for the region-supporting sport means supporting health, community, and growth. With diabetes and heart related illnesses soaring, the region desperately needs it’s citizens to get up and get their bodies moving!

So, just for this month, forget the noise and controversy surrounding sports and Qatar, and celebrate sport for what it’s supposed to be; inspiring, healthy, character building-exercise.

Here are a few events happening for Qatar’s National Sports Day:

Doha Dash

Things kick off on Tuesday at 7am and run until 1pm. Make sure to register in advance at dohadash.com.

Katara

The Katara Cultural Village is another NSD hub, and will have among other things karate demonstrations (9am-5pm), fast & slow chess competitions (9am-1pm; 2pm-6pm), wrestling (9:30am), weightlifting and sailing.

The Pearl-Qatar

The Qatar Olympic Committee has planned over a dozen activities at the Pearl Qatar this year, all happening at the Lido Venezia Beach (in Qanat Quartier) from 8am to 4pm.