TUESDAY FEBRUARY 2, 2021 JUMADA AL-AKHIRAH 20, 1442 VOL.14 NO. 5171 QR 2 Fajr: 4:58 am Dhuhr: 11:48 am FINE Asr: 2:56 pm Maghrib: 5:20 pm HIGH : 25°C LOW : 16 °C Isha: 6:50 pm Pre-sales for Qatar World Cup hospitality packages hit record $90 mn within hours Hospitality packages available from Feb 1 Jaime Byrom, Executive The launch of global Chairman of MATCH Hos- Amir condoles CATHERINE W GICHUKI and select groups. hospitality packages pitality, said even before the DOHA MATCH is the only com- for the FIFA World Cup launch of the sales they have with Saudi king pany appointed by FIFA to Qatar 2022 brings us another already surpassed their tar- MATCH Hospitality exclusively promote and sell, step closer to delivering an gets. “We are delighted to con- QNA (MATCH), the worldwide ex- either directly or via a network extraordinary tournament in firm that demand for the FIFA DOHA clusive rights holder of the of sales agents, official ticket- just under two years’ time. World Cup is stronger than FIFA Hospitality Programme, inclusive commercial hospi- We have always said that ever. The remarkable global HIS Highness the Amir on Monday announced that tality packages for the FIFA response we have had to our of State of Qatar Sheikh pre-sales for FIFA World World Cup Qatar 2022. Qatar 2022 will set new global pre-sales and the enthusi- Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani Cup Qatar 2022 hospital- In addition, MATCH an- benchmarks for the delivery of asm and professionalism with on Monday sent a cable of ity reached the unprecedented nounced the conclusion of its mega-events, and hospitality is which our long-standing sales condolences to the Custodi- level of $90 million. worldwide sales agent tender no exception. agents have responded to our an of the Two Holy Mosques The hospitality packages, process, where reputable and — Nasser Al Khater, CEO of the invitation to tender has fur- King Salman bin Abdulaziz including guaranteed match leading international sports FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 ther cemented our belief that Al Saud of the Kingdom of tickets, are available for pur- travel and hospitality agencies despite the unprecedented Saudi Arabia on the death chase globally from February have been appointed to sell events of recent months due to of HH Princess Noura bint 1, 2021 and will provide cus- FIFA World Cup hospitality the global pandemic, there re- Fahd bin Mohammed bin tomers with unique access to services around the world. The amount sets another FIFA World Cup Brazil and stadiums such as gourmet ca- mains unwavering enthusiasm Abdurrahman Al Saud. Qatar’s FIFA World Cup next The tender process re- FIFA World Cup record, far 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia. tering, premium beverages, and interest in the FIFA World year. sulted in the appointment of exceeding the sales targets The hospitality programme preferential parking, enter- Cup Qatar 2022 Official Hos- The hospitality pre-sale 27 agents across 39 territories, secured by MATCH for the will offer guests hospitality tainment and gifts, as well as pitality Programme.” purchase period was conduct- who have collectively commit- equivalent sales agent ten- packages which include offi- additional ancillary services, ed by MATCH and offered to ted financially to sales targets der processes conducted by it cial match tickets plus a wide including accommodation and Oman reports FIFA’s Commercial Affiliates exceeding $260 million. in connection with the 2014 range of on-site services at the air transportation. Continued on page 2 6 cases of new COVID-19 strain QNA MUSCAT Committees ramp up plans to Qatar World Cup will see SIX confirmed cases of the new rapidly spreading tackle COVID-19 surge: Official packed stadiums: FIFA chief coronavirus strains were recorded in the Sultanate TRIBUNE NEWS NETWORK of Oman on Monday. In DOHA The increase H E FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be the press conference on in COVID-19 played at packed stadiums, FIFA President Monday, Omani Minister of WITH Qatar witnessing a cases is still TGianni Infantino has said. Health Dr Ahmed bin Mo- surge in COVID-19 infections in its infancy and can “We’re going back to where we need to be,” hammed Al Saidi said the in recent days, committees be considered as a stressed Infantino while speaking at a virtual most common new strains dealing with the coronavirus warning bell. If correct meeting from Geneva. of the coronavirus in the have reactivated their plans to measures are taken, the “Next year, the Qatar 2022 world cham- world is the British strain, tackle the pandemic, a senior current situation can be pionship will have an audience, we hope stressing that the Sultanate health official has said. controlled.” that the COVID pandemic will be a thing of has advanced capabilities “The committees set up to the past and we will all be able to see it in to detect it, whether in the deal with COVID-19 have now — Dr Ahmed Al person. I’m really, really confident. We will laboratories of the Ministry reactivated their preparations Mohammed enjoy the same magic that unites the whole of Health or Sultan Qaboos for the virus,” Dr Ahmed Al world,” he said. University, or private univer- Mohammed, Head of Internal Dr Al Mohammed said, FIFA has teamed up with the World Health sities. Medicine Department at HMC tation in the virus has led to “Things are easier now than it Organization (WHO) to promote the need for and Medical Director of Hazm the emergence of new strains was in the past. We now have fair access to COVID-19 vaccines, treatments Mebaireek General Hospital, more capable of spreading, the capabilities to receive large and diagnostics, and to encourage people to said on Monday. which led to an increase in the number of patients, whether keep practicing life-saving, everyday public He said if the required pre- number of infections,” he said. in terms of equipment or other health measures to prevent the spread of the Myanmar coup: cautions are taken, the result “The increase in COVID-19 capabilities. We have trained coronavirus. will not appear tomorrow or cases is still in its infancy and and prepared medical staff.” The FIFA chief continued, “We have been everyone, the footballers, the referees, the Suu Kyi detained the day after, as it takes at least can be considered as a warn- He stressed on the need working with the WHO since last year on a coaches, the public. And whatever we do, we as military seizes two weeks to see a decrease in ing bell. If correct measures to adhere to preventive meas- protocol for the return to football.” will do it following health protocols that do the number of infections. are taken, the current situ- ures. “Health is a priority, when we play foot- not put anyone at risk,” Infantino said. control (PG 7 ) “The laxity in adhering ation can be controlled,” he ball what we want is to protect the health of (AGENCIES) Page 13 to precautions and the mu- pointed out. Continued on page 2 HMC shifts Al Wakra hosp’s Only individual outdoor sporting activities Women’s Emergency Dept allowed this National Sport Day: Panel QNA The intended works, “Starting from February QNA not to establish centres for activities or DOHA which pertain to security and 8, patients seeking care at the DOHA events that would cause congestion and safety procedures at the hos- Department will have to pro- overcrowding, which violate the preven- THE Women’s Emergency pital, are expected to last for ceed to Gate No 6 instead of THE Organising Committee of the Na- tive protocols set by the Ministry of Public Department at Al Wakra two consecutive months start- Gate No 2 to reach the tempo- tional Sports Day has amended the guide- Health to ensure public health and ensure Hospital will be temporarily ing from February 8. After rary location. lines for the activities and sporting events the safety of all members of society. transferred to Pediatric Emer- that, services would resume as Services at the Paediat- of the National Sport Day (NSD) this year. The committee also urged all mem- gency Department at the same usual at the original location. ric Emergency Department The decision was taken in coordination bers of society and authorities in the hospital. Head of Obstetrics & Gy- will not be affected by the with the Ministry of Public Health on the country to invite its workers to invest In a statement on Mon- necology Department at Al temporary transfer of Wom- public health indicators of the new coro- in the Sports Day and benefit from it by day, Hamad Medical Corpora- Wakra Hospital Dr Lolwa en’s Emergency Department navirus. practicing sports on this day individually tion (HMC) said the Women’s Al Ansari said the Women’s where the PED will be fully In a statement on Monday, the com- The Public Health Protocol prohibits or in limited groups as mentioned previ- Emergency Department will Emergency Department treats operational throughout the mittee said all sporting activities this year holding sporting events or activities in- ously in accordance with the preventive continue to provide health- 80-120 patients daily. It pro- expansion and renovation should be individual and outdoors only. side closed halls. As per the amendment, protocol and requirements set by the care services to patients at the vides expectant women with period. Women’s Emergency The number of players or participants it is not allowed to hold group activities Ministry of Public Health. The protocol temporary location until some urgent obstetric, gynecologic, Patients will have a separate should not exceed four in one group, such as matches and others that require file can be downloaded and viewed by vis- necessary expansion and ren- and other medical emergen- entrance,” Dr Al Ansari ex- while adhering to the safe distance, which contact with other players.