The 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum is hosting what will become an annual feature of its family-focused programming – the Junior Obstacle Race Challenge – to encourage physical activity by nurturing the children’s natural desire for play.
The pandemic and demands of modern living have transformed what childhood looks like in the 21st century. An average child in Qatar spends a significant portion of their day on sedentary digital activities. The race seeks to harness their natural curiosity and sense of adventure with a challenging obstacle course that will keep them engaged, entertained and active. The challenge will push them to scale new heights and conquer a diverse course, while having fun and getting active.
In addition to spending some much-needed time outdoors, the kinetic aspects of navigating an obstacle course will help children develop and enhance strength and balance. Outdoor obstacle courses like the Junior Obstacle Race Challenge are a great way for kids to explore their physical literacy.
Child-friendly obstacles
The track, which varies from half a mile to two miles – depending on the age of the participants – features a dozen child-friendly obstacles and a delightfully ‘muddy’ finish with the Mud Run.
Starting things off on the Low Wall, participants will flex their upper body strength to get to the other side and practice their balance on the Steppingstone station. Crawling through Tunnels is next, to develop gross motor skills, improve spatial awareness and engage in imaginative play.
Balance is back in focus on Balance Beams of varied height. The Net Crawl will then challenge the participants’ strength and coordination as they drop to the ground and crawl quickly under the net to reach the other side. Quick footwork will be in demand to master the two following stations of accurately speeding through Speed Tire Hurdles and climbing up and down A-Frames.
Getting high off the ground on the Apex Ladder and Climbing Obstacles will get participants through to the best part of the course – the Mud Run. Dodging Panels might help shake off some of the cakey goodness, but it’s best to have towels at the ready when the course comes to an end.
Event details
The Junior Obstacle Race Challenge is located in Aspire Park near the Burgeri Restaurant and open until 2 May, from 7 pm to 11 pm during Ramadan; and from 3 – 7 May, from 2 pm to 11 pm during Eid al-Fitr. The race will be held in two tranches on 15 April and on 6 May, from 7 pm to 11 pm. Participants four to 16 years old can compete. Please follow the COVID-19 guidelines and protocol prior to arrival at the venue.
3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum
The 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum was officially launched under the patronage of HH The Amir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on 30 March. A member of the Olympic Museums Network, 3-2-1 is one of the world’s most innovative and technologically advanced museums dedicated to sports.
It offers an unforgettable and inspiring interactive journey through the history and legacy of sports around the globe and the Olympic Games. Through its participatory spaces and programming, 3-2-1 aims to inspire and engage the community and encourage the public to take part in sports and physical activity. The museum is designed by Spanish architect Joan Sibina and covers an area that is approximately 19,000 square metres – making it one of the largest of its kind in the world. It is built onto the Khalifa International Stadium and is part of the Aspire Zone Foundation.
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