2021 Wanda Doha Diamond League athletics meeting on May 28 page 14 WEDNESday, NOVEMBER 25, 2020 ‘People will experience legendary Qatari hospitality during FIFA World Cup 2022’

Tribune News Network Doha

FIFA President Gianni In- fantino visited the Lusail Sta- dium, venue for the final of FIFA World Cup 2022, on Tuesday. On the occasion, he stressed that Qatar is shaping up ahead of time to host the ‘best-ever World Cup’. While speaking to the local media after a tour of the Lusail FIFA President Gianni Infantino at the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday. Stadium, Infantino opining on the important role of the media during the 2022 World The media should open people’s eyes to the Cup, he said, “The people who positive aspects to help strengthen Qatar, but I will say will come to Qatar will try to explore the country and get to the entire region, and I know that there are pending know it. Here is the role of the issues, but I hope that they disappear sooner rather media in presenting an image than later. We are here for sports and not politics. of the host country. The truth is that there are unfortunately FIFA President Gianni Infantino those who have prejudices, and we must make them see things from a different angle.” from the World Cup, he said, readiness.” The FIFA chief said Qa- “The matter will be slightly Infantino praised Qatar’s tar is an open country. “The higher than the last World preparations for the 2022 security element here is very Cup in , and it may World Cup, saying, “I can go special. Qatar is a safe coun- reach about six and a half bil- on vacation before a big event try. The people who will visit lion US dollars.” like the World Cup, which I the country will get to see the When asked whether this have not done in my life in the legendary Qatari hospitality,” World Cup will produce a new last 25 years, because what you Infantino said. champion, he said, “There is are doing is amazing. Things “The media should open no doubt that European teams are prepared professionally. people’s eyes to the positive winning World Cups in the And if Qatar decides to do aspects to help strengthen Qa- last 20 years was not a coinci- something, it does it best.” tar, but I will say the entire re- dence. They worked in a very The FIFA chief said, “I ex- gion, and I know that there are FIFA President Gianni Infantino during his visit to the Lusail Stadium, which will host the final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, on Tuesday. big way, they have succeeded tend my thanks and gratitude pending issues, but I hope that The stadium’s design has been inspired by the interplay of light and shadow that characterises the fanar lantern in the shape of a bowl. It is in winning the championship on behalf of the football fam- they disappear sooner rather scheduled to be completed in 2021. during the last four editions, ily to the Qatari leadership, in than later. and as FIFA president I hope the forefront of which is His “We are here for sports ing the Gulf region, the FIFA am confident that everyone in all the 22 Arab countries. The with the efforts being made that there will be a global di- Highness the Amir of the State and not politics,” he said, add- chief said, “All people should the Gulf region will celebrate championship will be held in to facilitate public entry, visa versity for the champions.” of Qatar and all those respon- ing that “The spotlight is on be able to attend, be present the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.” the World Cup stadiums and it process, especially for the peo- He added, “In the 2022 sible and everyone who works Qatar, and the World Cup is and celebrate the largest foot- He touched on the Arab will bring together Arabs from ple of Africa. World Cup, something will on preparations for the World a way to promote the positive ball event in the world. Politics national teams’ championship Yemen to Morocco,” he said. On linking politics with be different from all previous Cup at all levels. I know that aspects, and therefore the pos- should remain as it is a policy that will be held in Qatar. The FIFA chief said, “As sport, he said, “Politics should tournaments, which is that the 2022 World Cup will be itive aspects must be focused far from sports, and I hope “A year before the 2022 president, I feel very proud not be mixed with football, and the tournament will be held the best, and I am sure that here and the world will listen that the outstanding problems World Cup, there will be a and enthusiastic about the ef- we will do everything in our in the month of November, people in Arab countries and and watch that.” in the region will be solved, new tournament that will be forts made to organise various power to keep this distinction and this means the beginning the world will feel a lot during Regarding the ability of and people should be given held for the first time. And it is tournaments. I thank Qatar aside and allow people to enjoy of a season for the players, the 2022 World Cup and this fans to come to Qatar from the opportunity to enjoy the different from the Confedera- for that.” their teams and tournaments.” not the end of it, and there- prompts us to work together to all over the world, includ- World Cup in the region and I tions Cup. I would like to thank Infantino said he is happy On the expected revenues fore players will be in great achieve that success.” FIFA president confirms 22 national teams World Cup 2022 an will take part in FIFA Arab Cup 2021 in Qatar opportunity to shed light SC.qa The Confederation of Af- across the Arab world have prepared to host the FIFA Doha rican Football nations who agreed to take part in the World Cup.” will compete in the tourna- FIFA Arab Cup 2021, and we His Excellency added: Qatar will unite millions of ment are: Algeria, Comoros, are looking forward to seeing “The tournament will give on Arab culture: SC football fans from across the Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mau- the region’s best teams battle our national team the chance Middle East and Arab world ritania, Morocco, Somalia, it out to see which nation will to enhance their preparations Doha when it hosts the FIFA Arab Sudan and Tunisia. become champion. Through ahead of the FIFA World QNA Cup 2021 next December. The tournament will be football, this tournament will Cup Qatar 2022, by going During a visit to Lusail Sta- delivered by FIFA, Qatar unite over 450 million people up against some of the best The Supreme Committee for dium on Tuesday, FIFA Presi- Football Association, the from across the region, and teams in the region.” Delivery and Legacy (SC) said dent Gianni Infantino con- Supreme Committee for De- we are confident the FIFA “Fans from across the that the main goal of organis- firmed that the national first livery & Legacy and the FIFA Arab Cup will help to build region will be treated to the ing the FIFA World Cup Qatar teams from all 22 Arab nations World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC. excitement across the region same world-class experi- 2022 was to present a real im- have signed up to take part in Seen as a vital opportunity as we edge ever nearer to ence that awaits fans from age of Qatari culture and tradi- the tournament, which will be to test operations and facili- hosting the first FIFA World around the world when they tions that changes the stereo- held from 1-18 December 2021 ties ahead of Qatar 2022, the Cup in the Middle East and flock to Qatar for the FIFA typical view of the Arab world. in the majority of FIFA World tournament will take place Arab world in 2022.” World Cup in 2022. We wel- This came in a panel dis- Cup Qatar 2022™ ️stadiums, in the same timeslot as the QFA President, H.E. come our friends from the cussion hosted by the Su- with a total of 32 matches being World Cup. The finals of both Sheikh Hamad Bin Khalifa Middle East and the Arab preme Committee on Tuesday. held over 18 days. the FIFA Arab Cup and FIFA Bin Ahmed Al Thani, said: world to join us in what Communications Director The Asian Football Con- World Cup will take place ex- “Qatar looks forward to wel- will be an important mile- at SC Fatma Al Nuaimi said federation nations who will actly one year apart – each coming 22 Arab national stone and a final test of our that the committee is looking to compete in the tournament on 18 December, Qatar Na- teams and their fans, and preparations, only one year host an exceptional World Cup are: Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Jor- tional Day, which is a public giving them the opportunity away from us hosting the edition that serves the State of dan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Oman, holiday. to be one of the first FIFA World Cup in Qatar and its citizens, in addi- 2014. A total of three World accommodation that suits all Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Syria, FIFA President, Gianni select teams the region,” added the tion to serving the Arab region Cup stadiums were already in- fans that will come to Qatar. United Arab Emirates and Infantino, said: “We are de- that will expe- QFA President. and the world. She added that augurated, with another three He said that the country’s Yemen. lighted that all 22 teams from rience what hosting the World Cup means waiting only for the start of geographic location will also be Qatar has more to Qatar than building operations. The Lusail and Ras a plus, in addition to the tim- stadiums, as it will help leave a Abu Aboud stadiums mean- ing of matches that will take in legacy for the country and the while will be completed in 2021. the winter, all making Qatar a Arab world. She added that the For his part, director of great tourist destination. The designs of the stadiums reflect- media relations at SC Youssef broadcasters of the event will ed different aspects of Qatari Al Hammadi said that the also benefit as they will broad- heritage and culture. World Cup 2022 in Qatar will cast the matches at a suitable She highlighted that the be the most compact in history time for viewers, he added. committee also thought about in addition to being the first He said that spectators will the legacy it will leave for the edition hosted by a country in enjoy a different footballing world, as some stadiums will the Middle-East. experience in 2022 as they will be dismantled and donated to Al Hammadi added that get to enjoy the Qatari environ- poor countries. That process Qatar will be akin to a large ment, desert, and traditions. will be done in cooperation Olympic village during the He revealed that the com- with FIFA, she added. 2022 World Cup, due to hos mittee will switch its focus in She said that the construc- close stadiums and fans will the next two years from in- FIFA President Gianni Infantino during his tion plan was moving along be to each other. He noted frastructure to operations in visit to the Lusail Stadium on Tuesday. well, noting that work on the that the committee is keen cooperation with FIFA and its World Cup facilities began in on ensuring the availability of local partners.