Doha, Qatar, August 16, 2026: The Ministry of Sports and Youth, in collaboration with the Qatar Olympic Committee, organised a youth session titled "The Impact of Sport on Youth Mental Health" last week.
The initiative was part of celebrations marking International Youth Day observed annually on August 12. This year’s theme was "Different Lives, Shared Dreams".
Fawaz Al Musaifri, Director of the Youth Affairs Department at the Ministry of Sports And Youth, said this year’s International Youth Day theme reflected the reality of young people around the world.
Despite differences in environments, challenges and opportunities, he noted young people shared common aspirations to build a better future and enjoy balanced physical and mental well-being. He highlighted sport as one of the important means to bring young people together and support these shared aspirations.
Al Musaifri also noted that the partnership with the QOC helped provide a dialogue platform that brought together scientific expertise and inspiring experiences, contributing to greater awareness among young people of the importance of making sport a way of life.
Ms. Amina Al Meer, Head of the Local Cooperation Unit at the QOC, affirmed that cooperation with the Ministry stemmed from a shared vision that recognises sport as a tool for community development and enhancing quality of life.
She highlighted the QOC’s commitment to expanding cooperation with various national institutions to implement impactful initiatives that promote sports culture and encourage youth participation across different fields in line with the State of Qatar’s vision of investing in people.
The strategic partnership between the Ministry and QOC aims to unite efforts in implementing programmes and initiatives that serve young people, raise awareness of mental health and encourage healthy lifestyles. It also seeks to respond to young people’s aspirations and contribute to building a more healthy and cohesive society.