Georgetown Puts Inclusion At the Heart of Sport Day Celebrations in Qatar Foundation

In both a celebration of the power of fun and fitness and the importance of building community bridges, Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) hosted their annual One Georgetown Day event for Qatar National Sport Day. The entire school community was invited to participate in a day of friendly competition and activities, from the service providers responsible for the maintenance and security of the school’s Humanitarium Building in Education City, to students, faculty, staff, and their families.

Held over the weekend at the Awsaj Recreation Center, One Georgetown Day offered participants the chance to take part in games of volleyball, basketball, and tug of war. For younger visitors, games were organized by Evolution Sports, one of Qatar’s largest multi-sports coaching providers, and included friendly matchups in soccer, dodgeball, and tag rugby, ending with an award ceremony for the top young athletes of the day.

GU-Q’s National Sport Day event is organized by the university’s Office of Facilities Management. The chief facilities manager, Clare Wait, said, “One Georgetown Day provides an opportunity for GU-Q to reaffirm its values of inclusion and teamwork by involving all members of our community through sport.”

GU-Q faculty, students, and staff will also take part in Qatar Foundation’s Sport Day programming.  The Track and Field Club, a student initiative that promotes the importance of exercise and activity for the GU-Q community year-round, will join the QF Race, a 2-kilometer obstacle course spanning the length of Oxygen Park in Education City.

Started by students Sooin Jessica Choi and Ngoc Nguyen, the club is one of the many ways Georgetown puts sport at the heart of personal development. “Team sports are great but not everyone feels they have the skills to compete at that level. We want everyone to be active, and to be part of the fitness journey. The flexible nature of running means everyone can take part on their own terms, and enjoy the benefits of exercise,” said Jessica.

GU-Q also has a robust athletic program, competing with other Qatar Foundation branch campuses and beyond. A dedicated calendar of wellness programing throughout the year also promotes a healthy campus environment by encouraging everyone to take advantage of the available resources and make personal health a priority.