National Sport Day activities to be held outdoors

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The National Sport Day Committee has announced that all group sports activities and events to mark National Sport Day (NSD) this year will be held outdoors, after co-ordination with the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). This came in accordance with the recent Cabinet decision and in co-ordination with the MoPH regarding the requirements and guidelines for sports activities and events in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus (Covid-19), the committee said in a statement yesterday. The statement explained that the number of participants in a single event must not exceed 15 vaccinated people, while they must not exceed five if the participants have not completed the vaccination doses, such as children under 12, provided that they show a negative Covid-19 result through a rapid antigen test within 24 hours before participating. Everyone must adhere to the safe distance of at least one meter all the time during the activity. The Committee called on all members of society who practice sports to adhere to the preventative measures, noting the possibility of using all sports training devices in parks, sports tracks and all other places, in accordance with the decisions of the MoPH in this regard. The Committee also stressed the need to commit not to share personal items, such as drinking bottles. Hand sanitiser sites must be available in all activity areas. The National Sports Day Committee emphasised the need for all participants to download the Ehteraz phone app. Only those who appear to have a “Green” health state on the app will be allowed to participate, while those infected will not be allowed to participate unless they have fully recovered and have obtained a negative result in the PCR test or the rapid antigen test, and spent seven days after the infection. The Committee recommends that non-vaccinated groups, especially people aged over 60 years and people with chronic diseases, to not participate in the activities for their own safety. The Committee highlighted the importance that participants in the National Sports Day events practice their activities in a way that achieves the desired goals and ensures the preservation of public health and safety for all. Qatar celebrated the National Sports Day for the first time in February 2012, after the issuance of Amiri Decision No 80 of 2011 which stipulated that the second Tuesday of February of every year will be a National Sport Day and a paid holiday. All state institutions participate in this sporting event and organise activities to raise awareness of the importance of sports and its role in the lives of people and societies. Qatar was the first to organise a national sport day at the level of the region and the world.