BOC: Sports Day a success

Manama, Feb. 12 (BNA): The Kingdom of Bahrain today celebrated its national Sports Day in spectacular fashion, with a packed programme taking place across the nation’s four governorates. More than 200 sports and other entertaining activities were hosted during the day, with the most anticipated attractions staged at the main sports village at Isa Sports City, near the National Stadium in Riffa. The event, which falls on the second Tuesday of every February, aims to promote awareness among people to exercise and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Held for the third consecutive year, the event saw all of Bahrain’s institutions participating in various sports event where the country was transformed into a large playground. BOC secretary general Abdulrahman Askar gave the starting signal of the color run, as part of the festivities marking the third Bahrain Sports Day, which was organised in cooperation with various ministries, government authorities, governorates and the private sector. Askar, joined by BOC board members and representatives of national sports federations, ministries and private institutions, were engaged in a number of sports programmes, including American Football and basketball. Hundreds of adults and schoolchildren were engaged in over 20 sports and entertaining activities yesterday, including table tennis, martial arts, basketball, badminton, taekwondo, cycling, walking race and mind sports. Bahrain has become one of the first countries that dedicated an official holiday for sport that is in response to a Royal Decree, which states that in the second week of each February will celebrate the "Bahrain Sport Day". All ministries and government departments have allocated half of the working hours today for sports activities to mark the National Sports Day. This decision is in compliance to the announcement of His Royal Highness the Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa. Other various type of sports programmes were also organised by different ministries, private institutions and Bahrain’s governorates to celebrate the occasion, while contributing companies set up their booths along the main sports village to promote their respective goods. "I would like to thank the Bahrain Olympic Committee for inviting us here today and giving us space. It’s been very exciting for part of our culture that we get to share," said Deputy Chief of Mission of the United States Embassy in Bahrain Aimee Cutrona. "Sports in the United States is a big part of who we are, whether you are kid or adult, a professional or amateur, we are all here to have some fun". "It’s been really fun for us to be out here to meet up with Bahrainis and show them how to play football. We also have some kids from our English language programme, some navy representatives and from our embassy team here, so it’s a family event for us as well," added Aimee. "We have seen some incredible festival atmosphere here today were very excited with the sports activities staged at the venue, we have seen some taekwondo and gymnastics shows, so I think what has been great was the variety for us to see all sports enthusiasts here in Bahrain. We so the color run, which was fun, with young people involved". The Bahrain Sports Day is organised annually as per decision from their highnesses Presidents of National GCC Olympics Committee to allocate a national sport day organized in all over the Gulf region and engage kids and adults of all segments of the Bahrain society. This national gathering aims to promote the significance of sport and its role in developing the lives of individuals and communities, and to make sport as an integral part of the society. It’s supported by Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, representative of His Majesty the King for Charity Works and Youth Affairs, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports Chairman, and Bahrain Olympic Committee President.