"The Covid-19 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 children’s natural curiosity and sense of adventure with a challenging obstacle course that will keep them engaged, entertained and active. It pushes children to scale new heights and conquer a diverse course, while having fun and getting active," Qatar Museums said in a press statement.
In addition to spending some much-needed time outdoors, the kinetic aspects of navigating an obstacle course 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.
The track, which varies from half a mile to 2 miles depending on the age of the participants, features a dozen child-friendly obstacles, coming to 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 participants’ strength and co-ordination 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.
The event will take place in Aspire Park near Burgeri Restaurant.
The course is open from April 8 until May 2, from 7pm to 11pm during Ramadan; and from May 3 to 7, from 2pm to 11pm during Eid al-Fitr.
The race will be held in two tranches on April 15 and May 6, from 7pm to 11pm.
Anyone from 4-16 years old can compete as a Junior. "Please follow the Covid-19 guidelines and protocol prior to arrival at the venue," Qatar Museums advised.
The 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum was officially launched under the patronage of His Highness the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani on March 30, and opened to the public last week. 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 its community and encourage the public to take part in sports and physical activity.
Designed by Spanish architect Joan Sibina, the museum is spread over approximately 19,000sqm - making it one of the largest of its kind—and is built onto Khalifa International Stadium, part of Qatar’s Aspire Zone Foundation. The stadium, originally constructed in 1976, will host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.