World Sport for All Welcomes Qatar Sports For All Federation as New National Member
The General Assembly of World Sport for All has accepted the Qatar Sports For All Federation (QSFA) as a new national member, strengthening the Federation’s international network and bringing the experience of one of the Middle East’s most prominent sport-hosting nations into the global Sport for All movement.
The decision recognises QSFA’s sustained work to make physical activity part of everyday life in Qatar. It also creates new opportunities for dialogue, cooperation and exchange between Qatar and Sport for All organisations worldwide.
The Federation’s approach combines regular participation opportunities with introductory programmes, events and competitions. Activities include walking and running, fitness sessions, swimming instruction, children’s camps, school championships and programmes for women, young people and older adults. It also works with ministries, schools, sports federations, clubs, youth centres and community organisations to extend the reach of its initiatives.
A central example is the “365 Days of Activity” programme, which offers recurring fitness sessions in public parks and community settings. The programme reflects QSFA’s focus on continuity: encouraging people not only to take part in a one-off event, but to build physical activity into their everyday routines.
The scale of that commitment is evident in the Federation’s 2025 figures. QSFA reported 215,506 participants in community sports activities during the year. Its 365 Days of Activity programme recorded 35,000 participants across 1,460 fitness sessions supervised by 36 qualified coaches. The Federation also reported school activities involving 22,259 students, alongside community events and running programmes across numerous locations.
QSFA’s 2026 programme has continued to broaden these opportunities. Its summer calendar included more than 90 sports, community, recreational and awareness programmes, delivered in cooperation with public institutions and other partners. Activities were held at sports clubs, youth centres, public parks and schools, and were designed for children, youth, women, families and older adults.
The programme included children’s sports camps combining football, Muay Thai, fitness, recreational games and educational activities; swimming lessons; women’s sports evenings; community walking challenges; running events; and activities for senior citizens. It also featured initiatives for school-age participants and activities delivered with community organisations, including programmes serving people with additional support needs.
These programmes demonstrate the breadth of QSFA’s role: encouraging participation, introducing people to different sports, supporting healthier lifestyles and creating welcoming settings where communities can meet through physical activity.
Qatar has made sport a prominent part of its national development priorities. The Government Communications Office describes sport and wellbeing as connected to Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024–2030. The country also established an annual National Sports Day, observed across Qatar with activities intended to encourage people to adopt active and healthy lifestyles.
At the international level, Qatar has built substantial experience in hosting major sporting events and welcoming athletes, officials and spectators from around the world. Its record includes the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023™, the 2019 World Athletics Championships and the 2024 World Aquatics Championships. Qatar is also due to host the Asian Games in Doha in 2030.
This combination of international event experience and investment in community participation gives Qatar an important perspective to contribute to the Sport for All movement. Major events can inspire interest in sport; sustained local programmes help turn that interest into accessible opportunities for people in their daily lives. QSFA’s work connects these two dimensions by promoting participation across communities and age groups, alongside Qatar’s wider engagement in international sport.
As a national member of World Sport for All, QSFA joins a global community committed to promoting accessible sport and physical activity and strengthening connections among organisations working in the field. Its membership will support further exchange of experience, ideas and good practice, while providing a platform to share Qatar’s community-based programmes with international partners.
Marco Tomasini, CEO of the World Sport for all, stated: “On behalf of the General Assembly, we are pleased to welcome the Qatar Sports For All Federation as a new national member. QSFA brings valuable experience in developing community programmes and broadening participation, as well as a perspective shaped by Qatar’s significant role in international sport. We look forward to working together to strengthen access to sport and physical activity for all.”
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