The Qatar Football Association (QFA) took part in an awareness event organised by the Qatar Diabetes Association (QDA) at Qatar Foundation for Education, Science and Community Development’s (QF) Oxygen Park last Friday November 17 to mark World Diabetes Day.   The event included an awareness walkathon in addition to blood sugar tests, nutrition counseling, and healthy lifestyle advice through playing football and witnessed the participation of thousands of Qatar’s residents.   Football coaches and trainers from QFA’s Football Development Department including Mahmoud Shaker, Nasser Mkedish, Abdulrazak Obaid, Zinedine Azooza, Turky Yassine and Ihab Al Qashat educated the participants about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle through playing football.   A QFA dedicated tent was also setup to help raise awareness about the benefits of an active lifestyle, a balanced diet, and regular exercise.   Following the nutrition and exercise counselling sessions, a large group of participants took part in QFA’s physical activities which were organised by the QFA on the day. A large area was divided into different sections in which the QFA coaches supervised the football-related activities offered.   Activities included a football skill zone where participants tested their goal shooting and football skills, and a footvolleyball matches that ran throughout the day.   The yearly celebration which celebrates World Diabetes Day ended with an awareness walkathon in Education City’s Oxygen Park, which started at 3pm and lasted until 5pm.   QFA’s participation in the World Diabetes Day highlights the QFA’s social responsibility strategy which recognizes the importance of educating the community about the importance of leading a healthy lifestyle and therefore, partners with local entities to organise football-related community initiatives. Commenting on the occasion, Khalid Al Kuwari, Director of Marketing and Communications at the QFA said: “Our participation in the World Diabetes Day celebration highlights our ongoing cooperation with the Qatar Diabetes Association and highlights QFA’s commitment to partner with local entities to organise initiatives as such.”   He added: “in line with our 2021 vision, we have many community programs and activities which we will be implementing in the coming period in cooperation with our sponsors and community organisations that aim to strengthen the role of the QFA in the local community.”   Dr. Abdulla Al Hamaq, Executive Director of Qatar Diabetes Association, QF said: “I am delighted to see QFA participate with us supporting this noble cause in the World Diabetes Day. We are sharing the vision of creating a culture of wellness among our society. I would like to express my gratitude to this valuable contribution and looking forward to work together next year too.”   World Diabetes Day was created in 1991 by International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization in response to the alarming rise of diabetes around the world. Recent data has shown that 16% of Qatar's adult population suffers from diabetes, however, diabetes-related programs and initiatives organised by the QDA help educate the general public about the disease and ways to prevent it.   The QFA has participated in a number of international days’ celebrations in the past years including International Cancer Day in aim to strengthen its role in the local community and educate Qatar’s communities about the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle through football.