Qatar Embassy to Host the Country’s National Sports Day Celebration on February 7 in Washington
DCPS students at the Qatar Sports Day celebration in 2019
Qatar Embassy to Host the Country’s National Sports Day Celebration on February 7 in Washington
Washington Redskins, D.C. United, Washington Spirit and the National Children’s Museum have joined as partners for Qatar Sports Day’s special “Football Meets Futbol” event
Washington, D.C. (February 4, 2020) — On Friday, February 7, His Excellency Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani, Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the United States, will welcome 500 Washington-area 3rd-6th grade students to the Ronald Reagan Building (1300 Pennsylvania Avenue NW) to celebrate Qatar Sports Day.
The annual celebration is unique to Qatar, where citizens across the country are invited to take time to reflect on their health and wellness and to spend the day engaging in sport and fitness activities.
Qatar Sports Day comes to Washington for the second consecutive year with the theme “Football meets Futbol” and includes the enthusiastic support of four local partners: the Washington Redskins, D.C. United, Washington Spirit, and the National Children's Museum.
From 9am to 3pm, a select group of D.C., Maryland and Virginia public school students will be invited to join local sports stars such as past and present Redskins players Dwayne Haskins Jr., Derrius Guice, Dustin Hopkins, Brig Owens, Brian Mitchell, Ken Harvey, Josh Morgan and more, as well as D.C. United and Washington Spirit stars Tori Huster, Paige Nielsen, Brooke Hendrix, and Dorian Bailey. This collection of pro athletes will lead a series of heart-pumping activities and workshops, including:
● Redskins Play 60 Activity Stations: Play 60, the NFL’s national youth health and fitness campaign, is focused on encouraging youth to be active for at least 60 minutes a day. Students will rotate through Play 60 activity stations, including a Play 60 obstacle course and a rookie skills camp. The last group’s rotation will feature adapted activity stations for students with physical and/or intellectual disabilities.
● D.C. United Soccer Stations: Washington’s beloved MLS team will provide interactive activities aimed at getting students moving and excited about soccer. Local students will have the opportunity to play soccer on the mini-pitch, practice their aim on inflatable soccer darts and become experts in footwork with training from soccer freestylers Undefined Futbol.
Students will also get to experience:
● Qatar Cultural Exhibit: Students will have the opportunity to discover Qatari culture through a special exhibit containing virtual reality headsets that simulate the inside of Lusail Stadium, one of the exciting venues being built to host the 2022 World Cup, a Traditional Qatari Expo and play station with Qatar America Institute, an Arabic learning station with Qatar Foundation International, a cultural items showcase and much more.
● The National Children’s Museum: After participating in the Redskins Play 60 stations, DC United Soccer Stations and the Qatar Cultural Exhibit, students will visit The National Children’s Museum. While there, students will explore the interactive exhibits which focus on science, technology, engineering, art, and math (STEAM).
“Teaching our youth that lifelong healthy habits can be rooted in play and sportsmanship is a valuable lesson that Qatar is happy to share with the U.S. during this special event,” says Ambassador Meshal bin Hamad Al Thani. “We look forward to welcoming D.C.’s best and brightest for a day of fun, wellness and cultural exchange.”
The following schools and organizations will be participating in the Qatar Sports Day: Aiton Elementary School (DCPS), Best Buddies, Excel Academy (DCPS), Plummer Elementary School (DCPS), River Terrace Education Campus (DCPS), Whittier Education Campus (DCPS) and Special Olympics Virginia.
In support of Qatar Sports Day, the Embassy of the State of the Qatar has donated $150,000 to the Redskins Charitable Foundation that will benefit Play 60, the NFL’s national youth health and fitness campaign, as well as a variety of youth health and wellness initiatives, with a specific focus on programs supporting children with physical and intellectual disabilities. The Embassy has also partnered with America Scores, serving D.C. public school kids, as well as youth in New York and Los Angeles.
The Qatar Sports Day celebration in D.C. comes just before Qatar welcomes soccer fans from across the globe as the host country for the 2022 FIFA Club World Cup.
Qatar Sports Day timeline:
● 9-11am: Schools #1 and #2 rotate through activity stations
● 10am-noon: School #3 rotates through activity stations
● 11am-1pm: School #4 rotates through activity stations
● 11:30am-noon: Media check-in
● Noon-1pm: VIP Reception
● Noon-2pm: School #5 rotates through activity stations
● 1-2pm: Media availability
● 1-1:30pm: Qatari College students and VIPs rotate through activity stations
● 2-3pm: Activity stations adapted for students with disabilities
For more information about Qatar Sports Day, please visit washington.embassy.qa/en and follow @QatarEmbassyUSA and @Amb_AlThani_
PRESS CONTACT: For additional information, high-res imagery and interview requests, please contact Maha Hakki of MoKi Media: maha.hakki@mokimedia.com or 703. 973.7075
ABOUT QATAR SPORTS DAY, THE STATE OF QATAR, AND ITS EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON, D.C.
Qatar is among the few countries in the world to dedicate a national holiday to sport, with the aim of uniting the nation in a shared celebration of fitness, healthy lifestyles, and love of sport. National Sports Day began in 2012 with the goal of promoting sports and educating the local Qatari population on ways to reduce health risks associated with a sedentary lifestyle. The day is also viewed as an opportunity to bring communities together through sport and the sporting principles of team building, inclusion, unity, fitness, and health. In line with these goals, the Embassy of the State of Qatar in Washington, D.C. has been working with various organizations across the United States to share the spirit of Qatar National Sports Day with youth across America. The Embassy will be hosting installments of Qatar National Sports Day in Miami, Tampa, New York City, Houston, New Orleans and Los Angeles, and will be partnering with the local community to get individuals moving, and learning more about the culture and traditions of Qatar.
DCPS students participated in workshops such as the 40 yard dash at the Qatar Sports Day celebration in 2019
Redskin Chris Thompson25 at the Qatar Sports Day celebration in 2019
Redskin Josh Norman at the Qatar Sports Day celebration in 2019
