Djokovic wants Australian Open to go ahead ‘for the sake of tennis’ TUESday, NOVEMBER 17, 2020 page 14 Bio-bubble to provide safe environ in Qatar for 2020 AFC CL East Zone matches: LOC Qatar will once again We have written the COVID best practices protocol and demonstrate its tested it at various events high standards including the West Zone matches of the AFC of hosting Champions League. We are excellence: QFA’s implementing the same bubble-to-bubble method Khalid Al Kuwari for the East Zone matches as well and the learnings Tribune News Network from the West Zone Doha matches will be applied Following the successful here with some fine tunings. organization of the COVID- Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Musleh, 19-delayed West Zone group and knock-out matches of Advisor to Minister of 2020 AFC Champions League, Public Health of Qatar Qatar is all set to step in yet on Sports Affairs again successfully as a central- ized venue for the East Zone safety protocols, policies and phase of Asia’s elite continen- implementation. “We are hap- tal competition, according to py to be back in Qatar follow- Qatar Football Association’s ing the successful organization Khalid Al Kuwari, who is also of the West Zone group and the Marketing and Communi- knockout matches,” he said. cations Director of the Local Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Musleh, Advisor to Minister of Public Health of Qatar on Sports Affairs, Qatar Football Association’s Khalid Al Kuwari, also Marketing & Communications Director “The East Zone matches Organizing Committee for the of the Local Organizing Committee for the 2020 AFC Champions League East Zone, and Avazdek Berdikulov, AFC Deputy Director of Competitions and Football Events Division at will witness more or less the 2020 AFC Champions League the press conference in Doha on Monday. same safety procedures and East Zone. we are quite comfortable with “It gives utmost satisfac- dynamic manner and are ably ards of hosting excellence on ID best practices protocol and ing guidelines, wearing of the world is such that one has it. There are some changes, tion to the LOC to align with supported by the Government multiple fronts especially the tested it at various events in- masks at all times and conduct- to be prepared for positive which are improvements after the AFC and bring to Qatar the of Qatar in matters such as tournament infrastructure cluding the West Zone match- ing temperature checks are the cases at all times. “We are ex- applying the learnings from distinguished East Zone phase COVID safety and testing pro- and the health and safety of es of the AFC Champions precautionary best practices pecting one to three percent the West Zone tournament. of the AFC Champions League tocols. It gives us an opportu- players and officials.” League,” said Dr. Al Musleh. that will be seen in the East of tests conducted during the Participating clubs from all after successfully hosting the nity to test the effectiveness of Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Mu- “We are implementing the Zone matches as well.” tournament to give positive nations have been cooperat- West Zone phase,” Al Kuwari the facilities that will be in use sleh, Advisor to Minister of same bubble-to-bubble meth- Dr. Al Musleh shed light on results. This is in line with the ing very well and they are all said while addressing the me- during the tournament – five Public Health of Qatar on od for the East Zone matches the policy improvements which general trend in the country. convinced that Qatar is a safe dia on Monday two days ahead bubble hotels, four stadiums Sports Affairs, shed light on as well and the learnings from the East Zone tournament In the case of a positive test for host nation capable of a high of the kick-off of the tourna- including the three fully com- the COVID safety policies the West Zone matches will will witness. “During the West a player or official, the Isola- level of hosting standard. We ment which will witness 15 pleted ones that will be used and protocols that will be in be applied here with some Zone tournament, we learned tion hotel facility will be pro- have put in place a mechanism teams battling it out across 40 in the 2022 FIFA World Cup place during the competition. fine tunings. We have already things as we went by. There vided by the government free of working with the QFA and matches to decide the identity Qatar,” said Al Kuwari. “I thank the AFC for choos- conducted swab tests at the was a breach of the bio-bubble of charge. Players who have the LOC to attend to matters of the Finalist against Iran’s “The afternoon kick-off ing Qatar as the centralized airport on the teams who have by a particular team and we been in close contact will also at the highest possible levels Perspolis who had won the timings once again will en- venue for the East Zone AFC arrived in Doha and will be do- then had to frame a policy for be isolated in the same bubble in all necessary scenarios.” West Zone competition held able us to demonstrate the ef- Champions League after we ing so for all arrivals. the violation of the bio-bubble hotel and they can continue The East Zone phase of the between September 14 and ficiency of our pioneering sta- delivered a successful West “All teams will make their terms and conditions. In the training and participating in 2020 AFC Champions League October 3. dium cooling system which Zone competition,” said Dr. Al way to their designated hotel East Zone competition, we have the tournament as long as they will conclude with the Zonal “Life must go on but under had earned a lot of praise Musleh, who is overseeing the bubble. They will be tested been able to introduce all these don’t test positive.” final on 13 December which strict precautions and under during the West Zone tourna- health and safety aspects of every three or six days, which- policies right from the start of Avazdek Berdikulov, AFC will be followed by the AFC certain rules and regulations. ment, he added. the East Zone competition af- ever the case may be depend- the competition.” Deputy Director of Competi- Champions League Final on The 2020 East Zone AFC “Overall, I am confident ter essaying a similar role dur- ing on whether there are posi- The eminent medical advi- tions and Football Events Divi- December 19 at the Al Janoub Champions League LOC and that Qatar will once again ing the West Zone one as well. tive cases or not. sor added pragmatically that sion, concurred with Dr. Al Mu- Stadium, a venue for the FIFA the AFC are cooperating in a demonstrate its high stand- “We have written the COV- “Enforcing social distanc- the nature of COVID-19 across sleh regarding the health and World Cup Qatar 2022. Australia’s Perth Glory to face China’s AFC delegation praises Shanghai Shenhua first up on Wednesday Qatar’s preparations Tribune News Network tar – as well as the Jassim Bin Doha Hamad Stadium, home turf of Al Sadd Sports Club. The AFC delegation on Sun- The delegation on Sunday day visited the stadiums that praised the final preparations will host the AFC Champions and arrangements made by League East Zone matches the LOC to receive the teams from November 18. and the transportation plans The AFC delegation’s visit carried out. to the Nov 18-Dec 19 venues The Asian delegation ap- came per its main organiza- preciated ‘the great plans made tional tasks. The commission by the LOC, which spared no also held several meetings effort in providing all require- with officials of the Local Or- ments of the teams competing ganizing Committee (LOC) in the East Zone event’. besides undertaking trips to The AFC at the same time designated team hotels. commended the health proce- The venue’s visited by the dures and the strict medical delegation include the iconic protocol put in place by the Khalifa International Sta- LOC and the relevant authori- A Shanghai Shenhua FC player on arrival with the team at the Hamad dium, the Education City Sta- ties in Qatar toward staging International Airport in Doha. The Al Janoub Stadium which will play host to the AFC Champions League final on December 19. dium and Al Janoub Stadium the month-long event under – which are the 2022 FIFA trying circumstances because AFC the COVID-19 pandemic. champions Hyundai FC three days later. and officials were required to World Cup stadiums in Qa- of the coronavirus pandemic. Doha The action begins in Group of Korea Republic and group Group H promises to be undergo COVID-19 testing be- F at 1pm (Mecca time) with leaders FC Tokyo. an exciting battle as Jeon- fore their departure from their The exciting race to join AFC Champions League debu- In Group E, two-time AFC buk Hyundai Motors FC from respective countries and again Iran’s Persepolis FC in the tants and 2018/2019 A-League Champions League runners- Korea Republic are bidding upon their arrival in Qatar while 2020 AFC Champions League Premiers Perth Glory facing up FC Seoul play against Bei- for the treble following a suc- subsequent tests will be con- final on December 19 will kick- China’s Shanghai Shenhua FC jing FC on Saturday as both cessful season in the domestic ducted every three to six days. off on Wednesday in Doha, who will be setting their sights teams are currently tied on league. They play Shanghai All players and officials Qatar as Asia’s top clubs from on an opening victory. three points alongside Mel- SIPG FC on Sunday after the will also be put under a bio-se- the East Zone restart their ea- Along with fellow Chinese bourne Victory who face Bei- Chinese side take on Sydney cure bubble which limits their gerly anticipated Group Stage clubs Guangzhou Evergrande jing FC on November 24. FC earlier on Thursday. movement only to the hotel, campaigns. and Shanghai SIPG FC, the On Sunday, ’s The group leaders Yokoha- stadium and training sites. Similar to the AFC Cham- three clubs are the only sides will ma F. Marinos from Japan are Like the AFC Champions pions League (West), which who have yet to feature in be looking to revive their hopes only in action on November League (West), the Video was successfully staged last this season’s AFC Champions of qualifying to the Round of 16 25 where they play Shanghai Assistant Referee (VAR) sys- month, players and officials League Group Stage. when they face 2013 and 2015 SIPG FC. tem will also be implemented will be placed under strict Shanghai Shenhua FC will champions Guangzhou Ever- To ensure the safety of in the 2020 AFC Champi- health regulations and meas- have a busy stretch of matches grande FC, who meet Group G everyone involved in the AFC ons League (East) from the The AFC delegation at one of the 2020 AFC Champions League East ures as a precaution against soon after as they meet 2012 leaders from Japan Champions League, players quarter-final stage. Zone matches venues in Qatar.