The Olympic Spirit Comes Home: 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum Celebrates International Olympic Day

The 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum (QOSM) will mark International Olympic Day on Tuesday, 23 June 2026 with a full programme of public activities spanning sport, creativity, and literacy. The celebrations reflect QOSM's enduring commitment to translating the values of the Olympic Movement — excellence, friendship, respect, and inclusion — into accessible, community-centred experiences open to all. Public activations and workshops alongside with a library reading challenge will run throughout museum opening hours. All activities are free of charge and no prior registration is required.

This year's commemoration takes place in the context of the broader theme of ‘Sport: Building Bridges, Breaking Barriers’ championed by the International Olympic Committee and the United Nations. It is a theme that resonates deeply with the mission of Qatar Museums (QM) and QOSM — institutions that see sport not merely as a physical endeavour, but as a powerful force for social cohesion, cultural exchange, and human development. Reinforcing this commitment, the QFC Employment Standards Office will host a panel discussion titled "Advancing Women and Girls Rights, Safety and Participation in and Through Sport" from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM in the 321 Auditorium. International Olympic Day offers a timely opportunity to reflect on these vital issues and explore practical actions that can strengthen the promotion, fulfilment, and protection of the rights of women and girls in and through sport. Coinciding with these celebrations, QOSM will also open the 321 Cultural Olympiad Expo, showcasing original artworks by students from across Qatar inspired by Olympic values and sporting heritage, a testament to the powerful connection between sport, art, and culture.

The Activation Zone will host sessions across the day, offering hands-on Olympic sports experiences designed for visitors of all ages and abilities. Drawing on disciplines including athletics, boxing, and rugby, the programme creates an environment in which participants can engage directly with the values that define the Olympic tradition. Adapted activities will be available for persons with disabilities, ensuring accessibility and participation across the community. Guided by trained facilitators, participants will develop physical literacy, building coordination, confidence, and an appreciation for movement as a lifelong pursuit while exploring the principles of teamwork and fair play that are central to the Olympic ethos. School groups are welcome to attend the morning session, extending the reach of the museum's educational mission to younger audiences in a structured and purposeful setting.

Simultaneously, on the seventh floor of the museum, QOSM's Education team will deliver a series of creative workshops including Olympic Design and Craftsmanship. Visitors will be invited to take part in Design Your Football and Design Your Jersey — two tactile, imagination-led activities that invite participants to engage with sport through artistic expression. Through the act of design, participants explore values of identity, excellence, and pride, producing a personal artefact that carries the spirit of Olympic Day beyond the walls of the museum.

Visitors can also drop by the 321 Esports Lounge, Qatar’s Home for Esports, for a curated lineup of sports gaming titles available across PC and console stations, open for visitors to play and experience throughout the day, giving guests a hands-on taste of competitive Esports as part of the International Olympic Day celebrations.

Across the full span of museum opening hours, the QOSM Library will host 1,000 Minutes to Olympism — a community reading challenge in which visitors collectively contribute reading minutes toward a shared goal of one thousand minutes of reading throughout the day. A curated selection of Olympic-themed stories, athlete biographies, and sports-related texts has been assembled across three reading levels, ensuring accessibility for children and adults alike. The challenge is designed to integrate naturally into the museum visit — unhurried, inclusive, and open to all, while fostering a collective sense of achievement and shared purpose.

Abdulla Al-Mulla, Director of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, said:

"International Olympic Day holds a special significance for QOSM: it is an occasion that reminds us why this institution exists. Sport, at its finest, is a force that unites communities, transcends boundaries, and inspires individuals to reach beyond what they believe possible. This year's programme reflects our conviction that the Olympic values are not reserved for elite athletes; they belong to every family that walks through our doors, every child who picks up a brush to design their first jersey, every reader who adds their minutes to our collective challenge. We are equally proud to open the 321 Cultural Olympiad Expo this Olympic Day. In a year that marks the 50th anniversary of Khalifa International Stadium and heralds the arrival of FIBA 2027 on our shores, this expo reminds us that Qatar’s sporting story is also a human story, told not only on the field but on canvas, in colour, and through the eyes of a new generation. This celebration is a reaffirmation of Qatar’s place as a nation that cherishes the Olympic spirit and the power of sport to build a better world.”

The public is warmly invited to join QOSM on 23 June 2026 and take part in a day of Olympic-inspired sport, creativity, and learning.

For further information about QOSM's International Olympic Day programme and to plan your visit, please visit https://321qosm.org.qa/en/

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