Sharjah: Bakhit Saeed Al Qars, Director of the Sports and Community Events Department at the Sharjah Sports Council, said the council organised a running event at Aljada to mark Global Running Day, drawing 1,600 participants from diverse age groups and nationalities. The initiative aimed to encourage community members to be physically active while promoting the emirate’s emerging tourism destinations.

He told Sharjah24 that the event met its participation targets and exceeded expectations. He noted that the council is committed to introducing fresh concepts for its sporting events and selecting distinctive venues, adding that Aljada was chosen because it has become one of Sharjah’s modern tourist attractions.

Strong turnout from families and residents
Al Qars said the event drew strong participation from children, adults and families, underscoring the importance of community sport in bringing people together in a positive environment. He explained that the main objective was to encourage people of all ages to adopt a more active lifestyle and to highlight the emirate’s vibrant and growing destinations.

Inclusive format for all ages
The Director of Sports and Community Events explained that the Global Running Day event differed from traditional races because it was not based on competitive rankings and was open to participants of all ages. The activity ran for one and a half hours, allowing each participant to take part according to their own ability, whether by running a set distance or continuing until the end of the allotted time.