University of Doha for Science and Technology (UDST) celebrated Qatar’s National Sport Day with a full schedule of physical activities, competitions and fun in collaboration with Paris St Germain (PSG), BeBasketball, and TnT Athletics. H.E. Dr. Ibrahim Saleh Al-Naimi, President of QCSF, and the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Education and Higher Education in Qatar and
Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of UDST, students, staff and their families along with University partner organizations and the external community attended the day in full force to take part in a diverse range of sport and wellness events.
In a bid to maximize participation and encourage attendees of all ages and interests to participate, the UDST campus was transformed into a mix of dedicated sport zones and sections for Health and Nutrition.
Highlights of the day included the PSG Kids’ football activities on the grass pitch at the Events Park, BeBasketball Zone with ball drills and fun games, and some exciting sprint challenges with TnT Athletics. Attendees were able to watch the knockout stages of UDST’s Football 7 vs 7 male intramurals, as well as the nerve-wracking intermural finals of the UDST FIFA E-Gaming Competition. A Family Fun Walk and Run allowed groups to explore the campus together on foot, and a diverse Nutrition Zone was set up at the Events Park picnic areas for guests to take advantage of healthy food options. The day ended on a high with the famous Bus Pull, where UDST’s strongest students tested their willpower and might.
Dr. Salem Al-Naemi, President of UDST, said: “Sport and wellness is so much a part of our University culture, and one way through which we develop well-rounded individuals with drive, resilience, and a healthy outlook on life. Sport and physical fitness also play important roles in the Qatar National Vision 2030, and the popularity of National Sport Day is a fine example of the country’s commitment to health and wellbeing. It is a celebration fully embraced by UDST because it embodies not just sport and exercise, but an enduring spirit of teamwork and community, which we believe are vital elements of student wellbeing.”
Sport and wellness are significant themes running through life at UDST. Only last month did the University host the first ever GCC Universities Sport and Wellness Symposium. The three-day conference brought together senior university sport and wellness leaders, international sport federation representatives, government officials and students from across the region to promote the growth of regional student sporting and wellness opportunities. A fitting choice of host, given that UDST was also the first University in the MENA region to be awarded the FISU Platinum Level Healthy Campus accolade.
Tony Martin, Manager of UDST’s Sport and Wellness department, said: “We love sport at UDST, so Qatar National Sport Day is a highly anticipated holiday every year. It brings us together as a community with a good dose of competitive spirit, and an abundance of positive energy. This year our Sport and Wellness team, plus sport business partners curated a diverse program, ensuring activities for all skill levels and interests. From competitive cricket and football matches, a fun family walk/run event, to nutrition awareness, our goal was to create an environment where everyone, regardless of background or ability, could find an activity that speaks to them.”
UDST has a strong culture of sport and wellness. Students and staff can take advantage of state-of-the-art sport and wellness facilities including swimming pools, sports halls, turf and natural grass football pitches, a cricket ground, cricket batting cages, indoor and outdoor Padel andtennis courts, and a beach volleyball court. Two additional facilities that will soon be opened to the University and public community include our much-anticipated E-Gaming Room and Spin Studio. All of these facilities are available to the public as the University strives to make opportunities for health and well-being more accessible to the wider community, helping establish daily sports practice as healthy, habitual behavior.
