Launched in 2012, National Sports Day is celebrated annually to promote a healthy lifestyle. Qatar is the first country in the region, and one of the first in the world, to celebrate an annual national holiday dedicated to sport.  This year was the best National Sports Day yet, with the day being celebrated up and down the country. In particular, the QOC gave people the opportunity to play sport with their favourite Team Qatar athletes at a specially created Team Qatar Village. 

The Team Qatar Village, which took place in Barahat - Msheireb, was developed in partnership with the national federations to celebrate National Sports Day. The local community was invited to participate in athletics, football, handball, volleyball, basketball, boxing, taekwondo and karate, gymnastics, tennis and para sports.

With thousands of people taking part, the Team Qatar Village promoted the importance of a healthy lifestyle and strengthened the community's bond between the community and the Team Qatar ahead of their participation in the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. QOC Secretary General Jassim bin Rashid Al-Buenain said: "National Sports Day is a fantastic opportunity to engage our community, bring people together and build social and cultural connections. We strongly believe in the power of sport for human development, instilling positive values and encouraging people to lead healthier lifestyles."  

"Our Team Qatar athletes inspire us, but they also remind us that sport is not just for the elite athletes: it is for everyone. We host the National Sports Day in Qatar to celebrate that sport is for everyone and that we are stronger and more united as individuals and as a society when sport is a part of our lives," he added. 

The second edition of the School Olympic Programme saw 3,000 boys and girls take part in a running race on Lusail Boulevard as a part of the National Sports Day community activities. Primary school children ran 1km, middle school children ran 2km and secondary school children ran 3km. As National Sports Day coincides with the Doha 2024 World Aquatics Championships, World Aquatics President Husain Al-Musallam and Doha 2024's world-renowned ambassadors were on hand to meet with fans during the festivities. 

Yusra Mardini, named one of the TIME magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2022 after competing for the Olympic Refugee Team at Rio 2016 and Tokyo 2020, and three-time Olympic champion Ranomi Kromowidjojo were among the ambassadors who visited Mshiereb and took part in a meet and greet at the Aqua Market.