Two years since the start of the first World Cup in the Middle East and the Arab world



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Doha – opinion

Tomorrow, Saturday 21 November, the whistle of the FIFA World Cup begins, the first of its kind in the Middle East and the Arab world, in two years, between the corners of the Al Bayt Al-Fareed stadium.

As the countdown to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar accelerates, preparations increase in Qatar to provide an exceptional experience that allows football fans from different countries of the world to enjoy the magic of the Middle East and learn about its distinctive culture.

In terms of developing work on projects for the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup, the infrastructure for the tournament is 90% complete; Three out of eight stadiums have been announced as ready and major work has been completed in two other stadiums, with all stadiums to be completed more than a year before the tournament starts, allowing for testing their readiness well in advance of the event. .

The three declared stadiums – Khalifa International Stadium, Al Janoub Stadium and Education City Stadium – have hosted more than 100 games this year under strict precautionary measures imposed by the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, which have stimulated the minds of the organizers to resort to alternatives. innovative to encourage football activity. Return.

The development of infrastructures and the construction works carried out by the State of Qatar for the championship are also continuing according to plan. Doha’s modern metro is now operating at full capacity and the country is close to completion of local and express roads and the expansion of Hamad International Airport is proceeding according to schedule, as the airport is expected to meet the needs of over 50 million passengers per year by 2022.

In this context, FIFA President Gianni Infantino defined this year as “full of challenges for the whole world, and for football without exception”.

The FIFA president said the steady levels of progress in developing work for Qatar 2022 World Cup projects once again demonstrate the host country’s steadfast and ongoing commitment under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of the State of Qatar.

Infantino said: While we are two years into the World Cup, I personally thank His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani for hosting this tournament, which I trust will not be erased from memory and will leave a lasting legacy that extends. beyond the year 2022.

Infantino praised the very important labor reforms recently announced by the Qatari government and said: “Qatar has made progress in building stadiums, while ensuring the implementation of stringent measures to protect the health of workers, and AFC matches. Champions League that are taking place in Qatar demonstrate their flexibility and ability to perform in difficult conditions. “

The FIFA president continued, saying, “During my brief visit to Doha a few weeks ago, I witnessed firsthand the remarkable progress in preparations and look forward to the FIFA World Cup in Qatar 2022 in light of the positive transformation that brought local and regional, as well as the unique experience that the tournament will offer. For fans from different countries to watch the best version of the World Cup ever. “

For his part, Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee on Surrender and Inheritance, expressed his pride in Qatar’s progress over the past decade. The whistle of the World Cup in good time, announcing the readiness of all stadiums for the tournament.

“The tournament’s legacy programs have started to leave a positive impact on people’s lives in areas such as workers’ rights, education and entrepreneurship,” said Al-Thawadi, noting that this edition of the tournament is of great significance. for Qatar and the region as a whole.

Al-Thawadi stressed that, during the tournament, billions of people will be able to get to know the Middle East and the Arab world up close, stressing that “this will be the first time that many will know our culture”.

Al-Thawadi expressed his aspirations for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to be a “meeting place where people meet and everyone is welcome” and for the tournament to help “extend bridges of mutual understanding between cultures. around the world and provide a faithful image of the Arab world and the Middle East region. “

The 2022 World Cup in Qatar is expected to be the closest tournament in the modern era. The longest distance between stadiums is no more than 75km, while the shortest is 5km, which offers many benefits for players, including extended rest periods, training and limitation of movement, avoiding the hassle of traveling with domestic flights, accommodation and training in one location throughout the tournament period, plus the ability to watch more than one match per day in the group stage, in light of the tournament schedule, which includes four matches per day .

It is worth noting that last July the opening date of the World Cup was announced at the stunning Al Bayt stadium, which seats 60,000 spectators, and its design was inspired by the traditional poetry house that symbolizes hospitality. and the welcome, while the final match will be held at the Lusail Stadium, which can seat 80,000 spectators on December 18, 2022, which coincides with Qatar’s National State Day.



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