Abdulrahman bin Musallam Al-Dosari, Chairman of the National Sport Day Committee, announced that the 2026 edition of National Sport Day, which will take place across all regions of Qatar in February, will be held under the slogan “#IChoseSport.”
The announcement was made during a press conference held yesterday, Wednesday afternoon, at Al-Sadafa Hall in Lusail Sports Arena. The event also witnessed the unveiling of the new calendar of the Qatar Sports for All Federation, which includes more than 800 community sports activities scheduled for 2026.

The Chairman of the National Sport Day Committee and President of the Qatar Sports for All Federation stated that the choice of the slogan “#IChoseSport” aims to reinforce the concept of sport as a conscious and responsible choice that enhances individual health and well-being while supporting overall quality of life within the community. He noted that the slogan reflects the status National Sport Day has attained as a unifying national platform that promotes a culture of physical activity, raises awareness of the importance of regular exercise, and encourages making sport an integral part of daily life.

He emphasized that the message of National Sport Day goes beyond being an annual celebration, highlighting its role in raising community awareness and instilling values of health, activity, and balance. This, he said, positions sport as a fundamental and effective element in building a more productive, innovative, and giving society.

During the press conference, Al-Dosari also addressed the National Sport Day Award, which was announced last year and aims to motivate ministries, government institutions, public authorities, and private companies to organize continuous sports programs and activities throughout the year, rather than limiting them to National Sport Day alone. He announced the introduction of an additional award dedicated to individuals, to be implemented through the Sports for All application, which tracks activities of all participants, including men, women, youth, children, and those over the age of 60.

Within each category, individuals who have maintained regular physical activity throughout the year and adopted sport as a daily lifestyle will be selected and honored. The award aims to promote the concepts of sustainability and continuity in physical activity, and to encourage society to embrace sport as a permanent choice rather than a seasonal one. The award ceremony for National Sport Day winners will be held on February 8.

Al-Dosari stressed that sport is not merely a temporary activity, but rather a decision that reflects awareness and responsibility toward oneself and the community. He described National Sport Day as an annual opportunity to reinforce this awareness in line with the country’s vision of building a healthy, active, and sustainable society capable of facing life’s challenges. He affirmed that all members of society are encouraged to participate in sports and physical activity by utilizing the many high-standard sports facilities and venues available across the country.

In this context, he noted that the state has established 2,647 walking and cycling tracks, more than 159 fully equipped parks, and numerous sports fields designed to support a wide range of physical activities.

For his part, Abdullah Al-Dosari, Executive Director of the Qatar Sports for All Federation, reviewed the achievements of 2025, noting that the federation organized numerous community sports activities involving all segments of society, including children, youth, women, and senior citizens. He stated that total participation reached 215,506 participants, with activities distributed across northern and southern regions of the country, central Doha, and western areas such as Dukhan and Al-Jumailiya, in addition to public parks, youth centers, and sports clubs.

He emphasized ongoing efforts to expand activities to reach all available locations. Participation in the “365 Days of Activity” program reached 35,000 participants across four parks, engaging in 1,460 sports sessions supervised by 36 community coaches, reflecting a noticeable increase compared to the previous year.

Regarding neighborhood football pitches, Al-Dosari reported 58,751 registered participants across 16 fields, while participation in walking and running activities at these venues reached 13,800 participants. School-based sports activities recorded 22,259 participants, while community sports events saw participation rise to 40,593 participants across more than 52 locations.

He added that participation in sports tournaments reached 6,984 participants, while community running races experienced a significant increase, with 38,696 participants. Women’s participation rose to 8,000 participants across 59 races throughout the year, reflecting growing engagement and success. Overall participation increased from 206,000 participants in the previous year to 216,000 participants in 2025, with 834 events organized, exceeding the initial target of 750 events.

Al-Dosari also highlighted the strong growth in school sports activities, which included 91 events involving 22,259 participants across 60 schools, marking the highest participation to date. Sports tournaments also saw strong engagement, with 74 tournaments and 6,984 participants.

He concluded by highlighting the Sports for All application, describing it as a comprehensive platform that tracks community sports participation, individual walking activities and step counts, and provides access to events, tickets, and running races. He noted that more than 73,000 users downloaded the application this year, expressing hope that 2026 will surpass previous years in quality and impact, with the implementation of over 800 sports and community events in collaboration with all partners.