Qatar ambassador brings diplomats and young people together for cultural sports day in Gatineau
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Qatar's Ambassador to Canada, Tariq Ali Faraj Al-Ansari, hosted a sports and recreation day at Leamy LakePark in Gatineau on Saturday, September 19, bringing together ambassadors, diplomats and representatives of Global Affairs Canada alongside young people and participants from different nationalities as part of the Qatar–Canada 2026 Year of Culture.
The day featured basketball, volleyball, tug-of-war and other group activities, while the outdoor setting provided room for guests to talk, meet and share food. Qatari hospitality was a prominent part of the gathering, with attention to the organisation of activities, food and refreshments helping create a relaxed atmosphere beyond the formality of a traditional diplomatic event.
Participation was not limited to members of the diplomatic corps. Young people and guests from a variety of national and cultural backgrounds also joined the activities, giving the gathering a broader community character and making sport a shared space for interaction across generations and cultures.
The event drew broad Arab and international diplomatic representation, including the ambassadors of Egypt, Tunisia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates, Indonesia and South Africa, the ambassadors of Jordan and Morocco, Malaysia's chargé d'affaires, a representative of the Turkish Embassy, representatives of several African diplomatic missions and officials from Global Affairs Canada.
Al-Ansari remained among his guests throughout the gathering, engaging directly with participants rather than limiting his role to a formal welcome. The organisation and hospitality helped create an informal setting in which diplomats, young people and other guests could interact comfortably throughout the day.
The gathering forms part of Qatar's Years of Culture initiative, established by Qatar Museums in 2012 under the leadership of Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani. The initiative promotes greater understanding between peoples through year-long programmes spanning arts, sport, education, innovation and community projects. The Qatar, Canada and Mexico 2026 programme marks its 15th edition.
In that context, the Gatineau sports and recreation day offered a practical expression of the initiative's purpose, bringing diplomats, young people and participants from different nationalities into the same space and allowing sport, hospitality and direct interaction to serve as tools for cultural connection.
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Tahani Elghazaly5018 Posts
