Caitlin Dillon
After its
great success during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Hassan Al Thawadi,
Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has
stated that Qatar is looking into options for adopting the FIFA Fan ID system
during the next world cup. “Fan ID was a great success, and it is something we
are looking to emulate in Qatar,” said Al Thawadi.
FIFA Fan ID
is an identification document required by the Russian authorities in order for
fans to enter the World Cup Stadiums. Ticket holders for the finals could
obtain visa-free entry into the country, as well as free public transport, with
their FIFA Fan ID.
“There are
many [things] that we can adopt: Fan ID’s, security services’ work, the way all
of the services co-operate,” Al Thawadi said. “Russia set standards that are higher
than any standards that have been set previously… [They] hosted a fantastic World
Cup, and set a high benchmark for us.”
Speaking at
the Financial Times sponsored Future of Football 2018 conference in Doha on Tuesday,
alongside many other top leaders in the footballing field, Al Thawadi took
great pride in the progress that had already been made by his country ahead of
2022, “The way Qatar has taken leadership in terms of workers’ welfare reforms
across the region is a perfect example of how major sporting events can leave a
legacy even before the event is held,” he stated. “In Qatar, we have utilised
the World Cup to accelerate reforms. Even our most ardent critics are impressed
at the progress being made… The World Cup has already started paying dividends
for Qatar.”
In terms of
the long-term rewards the event will bring to the country, Al Thawadi spoke
about the ongoing plans to improve the country’s infrastructure and tourism
economy, “We’ve developed significant transportation infrastructure, including
the metro, expressways and walkways. The metro will be fully operational by
2019, which is very impressive in terms of the size of the project. I
experienced my first ride yesterday, between Lusail and Al Wakrah, which took
about 35 minutes.” Adding, “Accommodation-wise, we are continuing to work with
Qatar Tourism Authority. We are looking at various options, including hotel
rooms, serviced apartments, and cruise ships. We are carefully considering
capacity, as we don’t want to introduce rooms which are not required beyond 2022.”
And,
despite the ongoing blockade, Al Thawadi was quick to reiterate the benefits
Qatar’s hosting of the major sporting event would reap for the whole region, “This
world cup has always been a Middle East and Arab World Cup,” he asserted. “To
think that there are people in the region who might not enjoy the first World
Cup in the Middle East is very disappointing. We look forward to this matter
being sorted out. Football is for the people – and we want this tournament to reach
the people of the region.”