Overview: Qatar’s National Sport Day is held annually on the second Tuesday of February. It was adopted following an Amiri decree issued in 2011, and the first edition took place in 2012. Qatar is among the few countries to designate a paid national holiday specifically for sport and physical activity.

National objective: The initiative is intended to embed sport and physical activity in everyday culture, encourage participation by all segments of society and promote healthier lifestyles. It is not structured as a single competition; it is a nationwide programme delivered by public institutions, companies, schools, sports federations and community organisations.

QOC role: The Qatar Olympic Committee develops and coordinates a broad programme with national sports federations and partner organisations. Team Qatar athletes participate directly in public activities, helping connect elite sport with community participation and Olympic values.

Programme format: Activities commonly include open sport sessions, introductory experiences in different disciplines, family activities, demonstrations, fitness events and federation-led programmes. In 2024, QOC staged Team Qatar Village at Barahat Msheireb as an open event and worked with ten national federations and the Qatar Paralympic Committee.

Development of the programme: Team Qatar Sport Village has been used across several editions to bring multiple sports together in one public location. During the tenth edition in 2021, QOC adapted the celebration to a virtual format because of public-health measures, demonstrating continuity of the initiative under exceptional circumstances.

Half Marathon and Team Qatar Village: The QOC Half Marathon was added to the National Sport Day programme in 2025. Its second edition was scheduled for 10 February 2026 at Lusail Boulevard, together with short-distance races and Team Qatar Village activities at Al Sa’ad Plaza. The 21 km and 10 km routes extended towards the Qetaifan Islands Corniche, while the village hosted sports and entertainment activities delivered with national federations.

Participation and partnerships: The programme depends on cross-sector cooperation. For the 2026 QOC Half Marathon and Team Qatar Village, official partners and supporting bodies included Qatar Diar, ASICS Japan, Doha Bank, the Ministry of Interior, Hamad Medical Corporation, Qatar Development Bank and the Ministry of Labour, together with volunteers and national federations.

Institutional significance: National Sport Day supports QOC’s mandate to promote physical activity and Olympic values throughout Qatar. Its long-term significance lies in normalising regular participation, offering accessible entry points into sport and presenting physical activity as a shared national responsibility rather than an activity limited to athletes or sports venues.