The Sultanate celebrated yesterday Tuesday at As’sahwa Public Gardens the Oman Physical Activity Day which marks the second of October.

The celebration held under the patronage of H.E. Sheikh Sa'ad bin Mohammed bin Said Al Mardhoof Al Sa'adi, Minister of Sport Affairs (MOSA) in the presence of H.E. Dr. Ali bin Talib Al-Hinai, Undersecretary of Ministry of Health (MOH) for Planning Affairs and Chairman of the National Non-Communicable Diseases Committee along with a number of MOSA senior officials and members of National Committee.

The celebration included several awareness and sport events such as walking, activities on the importance of physical activity in daily life, sports activities, traditional and entertainment sports, number of shows such as fitness exercises, Capoeira and skiing, as well as a health corner.

A wide range of participants from government and private institutions attended the celebration. The event targeted all community members from both citizens and residents in the Sultanate.

The event aimed at promoting positive lifestyles by developing the policies enhancing the physical activity through the partnership among the relevant government sectors and various community members, as well as encouraging the community members to foster a culture of physical activity into their everyday lives in appropriate ways. Furthermore, reducing daily stress on both workers and non-workers through physical activity on a daily basis, encouraging physical activity in the work environment, which will contribute in raising the level of worker productivity, along with encouraging the concerned authorities to adopt suitable designs, buildings and environments for practicing physical activity.

It is worth mentioning that, the National Non-Communicable Diseases Committee organized the celebration, which held for the first time in the Sultanate.

In addition, assigning 2^nd of October of every year to mark the Oman Physical Activity Day came in coincidence with the celebrations of the world countries of the World Walking Day, which is marked in October every year.

Dr. Huda bint Khalfan Al-Siyabia, MOH Director of Social Initiatives said that the physical inactivity is the fourth major risk of premature deaths worldwide, where it causing 3.2 million deaths per year. With regard to the importance of physical activity, Dr. Al-Siyabia pointed out that the health benefits resulting from regular exercise of physical activity are vary and engage the health of body organs such as; the heart, circulatory system, lungs and respiratory system, nervous system, muscles, joints and bones, as well as mental health.