If anyone in Bahrain has ever posed a question as to the importance of sports to its residents then the recent National Sports Day surely provided the answer.
This first-of-its-kind event was organised by the Bahrain Olympic Committee (BOC) that brought together 10 ministries, four governorates, 28 sports federations along with national and expatriate sports clubs in a single day of sport spread across the country.
There were avariety of activities that involved all ages and nationalities with sportsranging from a chess festival and fencing through to horse riding and gymnastics. Body-building and weight-lifting adult competitions were conducted while there were martial arts exhibitions and a Spartan race.
The Bahrain International Circuit got in on the act too with various motor sports hosted bythe Bahrain Motor Federation (BMF) while also hosting sections of cycling races covering a variety of distances -30km and 100km.
In Um Al Hassam the Bahrain Handball Association featured an event for U12s while the Billiards and Snooker Federation hosted an event for both government and private schools.
It was refreshing to see that disabled sport was also covered under the extensive programme with events including wheelchair basketball, football, athletics, boccia, shodan, sitting volley ball and table tennis all a success.
However,while residents across Bahrain stretched their lungs last Tuesday the centerpiece was undoubtedly the Sport Village established near the National Stadium in Riffa.
With the car park transformed into an all-purpose sports arena thousands wandered through trying their hand at something new or taking the opportunity to impress their friends at fitness tests or simply watching others provide demonstrations.
The highlight was without a doubt the cage-fighting set up by KHK MMA with the lights, music and action drawing huge and enthusiastic crowds.
There were initially a number of bouts showcasing the talents of young BRAVE fighters before some of the crowd members were allowed inside the cage to try their hand under the watchful eye of professional referees and judges.
The organisers used the event to celebrate the announcement that Bahrain has been authorized to host the IMMAF World Championships, the first time that this global event will be held outside of Las Vegas.
KHK MMA CEO Mohammed Shahid also announced that the event will sandwich a blockbuster BRAVE event as part of one of the largest fight weeks ever seen in the region.
Testimony to the vision and efforts of His Highness Shaikh Khalid bin Hamad Al Khalifa the global extravaganza will witness the world’s leading amateurs fighting at the Khalifa Sports City alongside top professionals.
Around the edge of this were a number of running and walking events with a ‘colour run’leaving its mark on the participants and spectators alike.
Meanwhile, inside the arenas there were a variety of sports with hockey games catching the eye, using the event to host matches for boys and girls.
Within the grounds of the National Stadium there was also a remarkable cricket match featuring specially selected teams representing the two rival leagues, those ofthe BCA and BCL.
Under the watchful eye of national coaches and selectors the fixture also doubled as a nearly opportunity for players to impress ahead of the open trials before decisions are taken concerning the final squad that will represent Bahrain at an International Cricket Council (ICC) competition in Thailand.
Winning the toss the BCA elected to bowl first. A fiery opening spell saw early wickets fall although BCL recovered to reach 176-7 in 20 overs, thanks largely to powerful batting from Saqib (redx) who completed his half century from 35 ballswhile Junaid Niazi (BOC) smashed 42 from just 22 deliveries. Anasim Khan(3-23-3) and Imran Butt (4-23-2) were the pick of the bowlers.
In reply the BCL claimed regular wickets with Saqib again prominent in taking two cheap wickets while Rafi (Redx – 4-25-3) and Imran Javed (E. Basali 3-20-2) also proved difficult to hit.
Only Ahmed provided any resistance in striking an impressive 56 from only 33 deliveries.
Among the top-ranking sports officials attending the event were Southern Governor, BOC board member and organising committee chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Rashid AlKhalifa, BOC board member and women’s sport committee chairwoman Shaikha Hayatbint Abdulaziz Al Khalifa, Supreme Council for Youth and Sports assistant general secretary and BOC general secretary Abdulrahman Askar and senior representatives of ministries, sports federations, clubs and youth centres.
“We were here to celebrate this first-of-its-kind occasion and to promote public health among the communities by bringing together a sports day that was open to all members of the family,” said Askar. “Everyone was invited to engage in a wide range of activities in an initiative which aimed to motivate people to work-out and build concepts of taking up sport as a healthy lifestyle option.”
Askar noted that the hidden message of this event was ‘a sound mind in a sound body’ as well as aiming to promote the idea of community sport.
The next event to look forward to will be a local recreation of the Olympics with an equivalent being organised by the BOC in March with schools invited to enter teams in a variety of sports.
