NATIONAL SPORTS DAY IS A RESPONSE TO THE INCREASING NUMBERS OF OBESE PEOPLE IN THE COUNTRY

QATAR loves its sport.

So much so, that it actually has a public holiday dedicated to sport.

National Sports Day falls on the second Tuesday in February. Why the second Tuesday instead of a particular date, no one really knows. But it does provide a welcome midweek break when you’re still struggling to shake off January sluggishness.

In 2012, the first time the holiday was held, it happened to coincide with Valentine’s Day, which led to much tittering in this Islamic country.

This year will see it celebrated on February 12, meaning Cupid’s arrow can remain sheathed on the day.

While establishing itself as a hub for sport ahead of the 2022 World Cup is important for Qatar, the reason it has instituted a Sports Day is rather more altruistic. The Qatari government is determined to improve the health and wellness of its population, and Sports Day is part of its drive to encourage active lifestyles.

It won’t be easy – the Gulf state is not only the wealthiest nation on Earth; it’s also one of the more obese.

Research conducted by British newspaper The Daily Telegraph in 2017 found that Qatar placed 16th on a list of the world’s most obese countries. Locals and expats alike are not immune to the sedentary lifestyle that becomes far too easy to adopt due to a combination of sweltering summer months and privileged existences. If you’re tired of eating at home, there is no shortage of restaurants to reel you in or deliver to your home.

Hence the laudable efforts to get us off the couch and on to the sports fields. Qatar’s recent success on the football pitch will no doubt help motivate residents and citizens to go the extra mile on Sports Day – even if we walk rather than run it.

Al Annabi, as the Qatar team are known, had the country on the edge of their seats during their successful Asian Cup tournament.

Thumping Saudi Arabia and host nation the UAE would have been enough for most Qatar fans, given the political stand-off between the Gulf neighbours – that they went on to beat Japan 3-1 in the final sent the country into meltdown.

Such is the level of discord between the so-called “blockade countries”, that the UAE media chose to cover Qatar’s victory in quite a unique fashion – by ignoring their role in it. One headline simply read “Japan loses final of Asian Cup”.

This after Qatar’s players were pelted with shoes during their semifinal win over the UAE.

So much for being a good sport on the field and off.

But Qatar won’t mind. They have the trophy and bragging rights, not to mention a Sports Day public holiday to enjoy as well.