National Sports Day events at Expo 2020 Dubai to attract wide community participation

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

Wednesday will mark the launch of the activities of the 7th National Sports Day featuring the participation of all segments of society, under the theme ‘The UAE Unites Us’.

The National Sports Day is being held every year in response to the call of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to specify a sports day in which all sports, physical and heritage activities are practised.

Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Committee the National Olympic Committee, Chairman of the High Committee for the National Sports Day Initiative, called upon all segments of society, institutions, and bodies to organize various activities and practice the concepts of friendship, cooperation and brotherhood, which are among the key principles of Olympic movement.

The 3km walk at Expo 2020 Dubai, which features the participation of huge numbers of public and sports figures, begins at 9am in front of the Festival Garden, Expo 2020 Dubai.

The Dubai Police band will march through all pavilions in the designated walking path. It sends a clear message that sport brings together all age groups of different nationalities to paint a bright picture at the world’s biggest cultural gathering. It enables holding the National Sports Day in a distinctive atmosphere of joy, happiness and pleasure.

The event concludes at the Sports, Fitness and Wellbeing Hub, which will host 33 different sports activities, including football, basketball, volleyball, badminton, yoga for women and cycling, in addition to a range of physical activities.

On the sidelines of the accompanying events, some exhibition sports performances in fencing, taekwondo, karate and bodybuilding will also be held to diversify the activities and present a distinctive version of the National Sports Day.

Sheikh Salem Bin Sultan Al Qasimi, Head of the Executive Team of the National Sports Day initiative, discussed in the last meeting of the executive working group for the National Sports Day initiative, in the presence of Eng. Azza bint Sulaiman, Assistant Secretary-General for Administrative and Financial Affairs of the National Olympic Committee, various preparations in the presence of the members of the work team.

Dr Ahmed Belhoul Al Falasi, Vice President of the National Olympic Committee, Chairman of the Executive Office, stated that National Sports Day is an invitation to all members of society to practice sport and make it a part of their daily lifestyle, in view of its terrific role in sustaining physical and mental health.

Falasi explained that the step reflects the keenness of the UAE leadership to ensure the health and safety of the community, besides providing the environment to enable them to practice various types of sports.

“Today, we witness the seventh edition of this initiative launched by Sheikh Mohammed to encourage the practice of diverse sports and heritage activities. This year's edition has a special flavour - it is being held at Expo 2020 Dubai, which ensures extensive participation from different nationalities, thereby enhancing the role of Expo as a site of cultural convergence, but this time it embraces the title of ‘Sport’,” said Falasi.

“The 7th edition of the National Sports Day will succeed in consolidating numerous positive concepts, in the light of the wide participation seen in the past editions, reflecting the desire of all segments of society to practice sports and express UAE's devotion to the success of the National Sports Day that makes each person communicate the same language under the theme ‘UAE Unites Us’.

“Organising the main event at Expo 2020 Dubai is an opportunity to demonstrate the harmony between diverse cultures from all countries of the world, and take advantage of the distinctive environment nurtured by Expo 2020 Dubai in the assembly and communication between all visitors in presenting a version of high Olympic principles and values such as cooperation, peace, affection and brotherhood. The work teams of the National Olympic Committee and the General Authority of Sports will cooperate to facilitate the participants' tasks by providing all means of support.