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World Cup is key supporter of Qatar National Vision 2030 goals: Thawadi

World Cup is key supporter of Qatar National Vision 2030 goals: Thawadi

QNA

New York The Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) Hassan Al Thawadi said that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 represents an exceptional event whose importance is not limited to football competitions, but rather an embodiment of the objectives that Qatar established in its National Vision 2030, which include economic diversification, support for environmental initiatives, human development, and social progress.

In an exclusive interview with Qatar News Agency (QNA), Al Thawadi said that Qatar views the World Cup as a comprehensive event that goes beyond the boundaries of stadiums, stemming from its belief in the power of sport to make a positive change in societies, especially in football; noting that the World Cup has also been the main supporter of many initiatives and a catalyst for social and economic development alike.

The SC Secretary-General cited the "Scoring for the Goals" event for sustainable development as an example. 

"Qatar launched the initiative at the United Nations headquarters recently within the framework of its preparations to host a sustainable edition of the World Cup, and in continuation of its sustainable approach, especially as the initiative includes the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals," he noted.

He affirmed Qatar's commitment to deliver a unique edition of the world's largest and most prestigious football championship—"a World Cup edition that will leave a social, humanitarian, economic, and environmental legacy."

Al Thawadi reiterated the readiness of Qatar to host the major global event from November 20 to December 18 in the best organisational form; pointing to the completion of all eight stadiums that will host the tournament.

He also noted that the features of the World Cup FIFA Qatar 2022 have begun to appear as final operational preparations are in full swing, as well as the completion of arrangements to welcome the fans and media outlets who have broadcasting rights, who have already arrived in Doha, and the preparation of their broadcasting venues and studios is nearing completion.

"Qatar has long passed the stage of responding to skeptics about its ability to host the World Cup. From the first day, we were sure that actions on the ground would prove to everyone Qatar's ability to host a major tournament like the World Cup," Al Thawadi said.

Al Thawadi noted that since winning the honor of hosting the World Cup, Qatar has organised many important events that responded to all skeptics, including the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, which was the most important opportunity to test the operational plans for the World Cup in an integrated manner.

The SC Secretary-General said that the high demand for the World Cup tickets is due to several factors, including that the tournament is the first world championship after COVID-19. 

"Tokyo Olympics were held without fans, and the UEFA EURO 2020 was held under restrictions that limited the number of fans, while the World Cup Qatar 2022 will be the first tournament without restrictions, and there is no doubt that the world is eager to attend global events," he said.

He added that the high demand for World Cup tickets is also linked to the fact that the World Cup will be held for the first time in the Middle East and the Arab world, where everyone is eager to attend this global event. In addition, Qatar 2022 will be the first tournament of its kind in terms of the ability of fans to attend more than one match on the same day, which will attract fans around the world.

"The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 represents an opportunity to bring the peoples of the world closer together, offering a perfect football version and an integrated experience that shows the Qatari customs, traditions, culture and Arab hospitality, as well as changing the stereotype of the Arab world, leaving a legacy that serves the people of the region and the whole world," Al Thawadi said.

He said that football is a popular first-class global sport, and that major tournaments such as the World Cup leave good memories for both the fans and the hosts, noting that Qatar, the Arab World, and the Middle East are characterised by hospitality, which will leave impressions among the fans different than the prevailing impressions of the region.