KUWAIT CITY, March 9: His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah on Saturday affirmed the necessity of exercise and lauded the participation of citizens of special needs at the launch of Kuwait Sports Day. His Highness the prime minister was speaking as he sponsored and attended the launch of Kuwait Sports Day on Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah Bridge -- organized by the Public Sport Authority.

His Highness the Prime Minister praised the authority, other involved bodies, and the distinctive organization of the event, affirming the necessity of exercise for all age segments. Sports contribute to boosting collective action and positively affect human health, His Highness the Prime Minister has added. He also noted the participation of special needs individuals in all the competitions. “This signals the solid will of the Kuwaiti people and their determination to attain their goals,” he said, expressing gratitude to everybody participating in this initiative.

The first edition of Kuwait Sports Day kicked off on Saturday involving more than 13,000 racers on foot and bicycles. The event started under the sponsorship and with the attendance of His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah along with a number of officials and diplomats. The competitions involve some 13,000 Sheikh racing on Jaber Al-Ahmad Bridge. They include a five-kilometer race-walking and a 15-km bicycle race, in addition to other sports activities, shows, and games. Led by His Highness the Prime Minister, the moto bikers and the walkers started the races on the bridge from the beginning toward the end line; the bridge southern islet.

The Public Sports Authority had built a sports village on the islet for tennis table, baby foot games, children's playgrounds, a theater where a folkloric band is singing popular songs, and booths serving food and coffee. The authority’s director general, Yusuf Al-Bdian, said in a statement to KUNA that he and his sports peers were honored with the presence of His Highness the prime minister at the activity, part of the authority’s strategy, inspired by the former minister of youth, Abdulrahman Al-Mutairi. Al-Bidan said participation of more than 13,000 persons in the activity signaled its success, noting that it has been adopted as a state annual sports day by the prime minister Oor her part, the assistant undersecretary for educational development and activities, Mariam Al-Enezi, said in remarks to KUNA that the ministry of education participated with 1,400 students.

The Ministry of Health (MoH) has provided 10 ambulances, four motorbike buggies, two golf carts and a field tent equipped with necessary medical supplies, as well as two ambulance helicopters for Kuwait Sports Day. The Kuwait Sports Day kicked off on Saturday under the patronage and attendance of His Highness Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Al-Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. The MoH mentioned in a statement that the Health Minister Dr. Ahmad Al-Awadhi supervised the preparations done by the ministry for this huge sports event, with more than 13,000 participants. The preparations included increasing the level of readiness in the main hospitals concerned with the event area, such as Al-Sabah and Al-Amiri, in addition to other supporting facilities. The Dean of Diplomatic Corps and Ambassador of Tajikistan to Kuwait Dr. Zubaidullah Zubaidov said that the launch of Kuwait Sports Day is a great initiative to enhance sports culture amongst the society. This community sports event, with the auspices and attendance of the Prime Minister His Highness Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah, has witnessed a great turnout by members of the diplomatic corps in Kuwait, to make it a success and emphasizes the importance of sport for ones’ health, Zubaidov said in a statement to KUNA.

He stressed his keenness to participate in the walkathon and complete it, expressing his wishes to see more of these events in Kuwait throughout the year, which will positively impact the society, noting diplomatic corps members’ eagerness to support all activities and events that take place in Kuwait. Spearheaded by Kuwait’s Public Authority for Sport (PAS), the fledgling initiative “Kuwait Sports Day” is chiefly meant to promote and fan out the concept of community sports.

The move reflects the Kuwaiti government’s belief in the paramount significance of sports, as well as its endeavor to build a healthy society where people can enjoy environmental, mental and psychological support. The initiative, whose activities are to start at the Sheikh Jaber Al-Ahmad Al- Sabah Causeway on Saturday, will be held under the aegis of His Highness the Prime Minister Sheikh Dr. Mohammad Sabah Al-Salem Al-Sabah. (KUNA)