The kingdom yesterday celebrated its National Sports Day across the four governorates with tens of thousands of citizens and residents from all segments of the society participating in various events.
The National Sports Day, which falls on the second Tuesday of every February, was a day of sports and other fun activities to promote the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle.
More than 250 activities were held in different parts of the country, with the main programmes running at the sports village in Isa Town Sports City, located behind National Stadium in Riffa.
Among various types of sports programmes organised by different ministries, private institutions and Bahrain’s governorates were athletics, martial arts, football, basketball, mind sports, triathlon, table tennis, cycling and taekwondo.
Meanwhile, Royal Guard Commander Brigadier Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa took part in the Sports Day activities held on the Royal Guards premises.
Commander of the Royal Guard’s Special Force Major Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa, and Captain Shaikh Mohammed bin Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa were also present.
The Royal Guard Commander, marking the occasion, pointed out the significance of military sport in preparing good soldiers. He underlined the royal support for military sports and the constant follow-up of Commander-in-chief Field Marshal Shaikh Khalifa bin Ahmed Al Khalifa.
He also highlighted the military sport achievements at the regional and international levels.
Bahrain International Circuit (BIC) was well represented in yesterday’s activities. A number of staff members took part in the day’s events, which featured all kinds of sports at all levels. One of the activities was a walk or cycle around BIC’s 5.412-kilometre Grand Prix track, the same raced on by Formula 1’s superstars in the Gulf Air Bahrain Grand Prix.
BIC also hosted karting at the world-class Bahrain International Karting Circuit as well as Track Top activities and Autocross within its premises, in association with the Bahrain Motor Federation.
Gulf Petrochemical Industries Company (GPIC) employees took part in a number of events at the company complex. GPIC President Dr Abdulrahman Jawahery said the Sports Day reaffirms the keenness of the kingdom’s leadership to make it a lifestyle for all members of the society. He also stressed on the importance of exercise in promoting public health.
Gravity Village organised a series of sports activities yesterday morning. The entire Gravity Village team took part in the activities.
The Sports Day also featured a first-of-its-kind ‘Fun Run’ event at the sports village, which was organised in cooperation with the Olympic Council of Asia to promote the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang, from August 18 to September 2.
Hundreds of adults and schoolchildren took part in the Fun Run programme, which is a dedicated OCA social sports development and promotion programme held among 45 Asian National Olympic Councils.
At the end of the activities, Bahrain Olympic Committee general secretary and organising committee chairman Abdulrahman Askar and Minister of Youth and Sports Affairs Hisham Al Jowder presented awards to representatives of ministries, companies, governorates and supporters in appreciation of their efforts in making the day a success.
Askar thanked His Royal Highness Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa for his directives to allocate half of the workday for the activities. The BOC general secretary also thanked His Majesty the King’s representative for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports chairman and BOC president Shaikh Nasser in Hamad Al Khalifa for his support.