WCM-Q and Sahtak Awalan Participate in National Sport Day

Press release

Published February 15th, 2023 - 04:21 GMT

WCM-Q and Sahtak Awalan Participate in National Sport Day

During the event

Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar’s (WCM-Q) flagship public health campaign and the Ministry of Municipality participated in National Sport Day activities at Umm Al Seneem Park, which holds the Guinness World Record for the longest air-conditioned track.

Attended by His Excellency Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and hundreds of members of the public, this year’s Sahtak Awalan celebrations featured an impressive variety of sports activities, including wall climbing and the famous smoothie bikes, which allow young and old alike to blend their own smoothies by pedaling a bicycle.

On-the-day activities were further complemented by the innovative ‘Fitness Box,’ a solar-powered installation crafted from upcycled shipping containers and equipped with giant screens to broadcast tailor-made free fitness classes led by internationally renowned instructors. The ‘Fitness Box’ is designed to motivate the community to embrace a healthier lifestyle and is currently available at a number of locations across Qatar, including Al Rayyan Park, Al Muntazah Park, Celebration Square (Al Mannall), and Al Khor Park.
Ms. Nesreen Al-Rifai, Chief Communications, External Affairs and Development Officer at WCM-Q and the driving force behind Sahtak Awalan, said: “National Sport Day is an extraordinary initiative that has, over its 12-year history, inspired people of all ages and backgrounds to come together and annually renew their pledge to lead an active life. We are truly honored to participate in National Sport Day and continue to encourage the community to put their health and fitness center stage by adopting a sustainable and healthy lifestyle. We are also proud to partner with the Ministry of Municipality and are grateful for their ongoing support.”

Sahtak Awalan – Your Health First was launched in 2012 to inspire and empower all members of the community to achieve and maintain good health in sustainable ways through a wide variety of initiatives. The campaign’s strategic partners include Qatar Foundation, the Ministry of Public Health, the Ministry of Municipality, the Ministry of Education and Higher Education, and the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change.

Background Information

Weill Cornell Medical College in Qatar

Weill Cornell Medicine - Qatar is a partnership between Cornell University and Qatar Foundation. It offers a comprehensive six-year medical program leading to the Cornell University M.D. degree with teaching by Cornell and Weill Cornell faculty and by physicians at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), Aspetar Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, the Primary Health Care Corporation, the Feto Maternal Center, and Sidra Medicine, who hold Weill Cornell appointments. Through its biomedical research program, WCM-Q is building a sustainable research community in Qatar while advancing basic science and clinical research. Through its medical college, WCM-Q seeks to provide the finest education possible for medical students, to improve health care both now and for future generations, and to provide high quality health care to the Qatari population.