The Ministry of Sports and Youth participated in the Seventh Conference of Ministers and Senior Officials for Physical Education and Sports, which was held in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, under the slogan “Fitness for Life.”

A number of ministers and officials in the physical education and sports sector in the member states of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) participated in the conference, which was launched last week.

The conference aimed to shed light on the status and importance of sports and physical activities as a means to promote public health and the values of respect and equality in social terms, and to discuss the challenges facing the member states of the organization, especially in the areas of financing, training and data.

The State of Qatar was represented at the conference by Mr. Nasser bin Ali Al-Khater, Director of the Legal Affairs Department at the Ministry of Sports and Youth. He delivered a speech in which he emphasized the State’s interest in physical activity, which benefits the physical, intellectual, psychological and social health of the individual and society.

He pointed out that the State of Qatar is proud of adopting a track record in supporting and sponsoring sports, and this trend embodies the interest of the wise leadership of the State of Qatar, led by His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State, to support and sponsor sports in the State, in an effort to build community members and take care of their physical and the mental health, through the establishment of an integrated sports infrastructure to serve the community, and the implementation of national development plans on a sound and balanced basis, as sport is a major pillar of the Qatar National Vision 2030.

Al-Khater said that the State of Qatar realized the growing role of sport in enabling sustainable development, so it committed itself to organizing the most sustainable version in the history of the World Cup tournaments during its organization of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, as it employed sustainability practices and environmental protection during all stages of the infrastructure projects necessary to organize the world championship.

In his speech, Al-Khater indicated that the State of Qatar is working to spread the culture of sports among the nations of the world, and harnesses all capabilities for it to highlight the civilizational development witnessed by the country, and to improve relations and bonds of friendship between countries and peoples, as well as being a factor in preventing crime and behavioral deviations among adolescents and youth.

In this regard, the country has hosted more than 500 international sporting events in the past years, including all sports for different age groups.

In a related context, Al-Khater stated that the Ministry of Sports and Youth aims to create a cohesive community that enjoys health and fitness, and fosters factors for positive change. As a result of this approach, there has been an increase in interest in physical activities among members of society, and Qatari youth recorded their distinguished contribution to elevate sports to the point of excellence, making our youth a source of pride and admiration.

The Ministry of Sports and Youth is also working, in partnership with youth actors in the country, to provide a sports environment that contributes to refining their skills and discovering their talents, in line with the Ministry’s vision of “Active and Responsible Youth with a sense of patriotism, and a community practicing sports.”

During his speech, he highlighted the pillars on which the National Youth Policy is based, which aims to strengthen the leadership of youth work in the country, as well as contribute to achieving comprehensive youth development at its various levels.

At the end of the conference, the Baku Declaration was adopted within the framework of UNESCO’s Sports for Life program.