RRUGBYUGBY | Page 6 FOOTBALL | Page 3 Spectacular Spurs sink Man May try helps City to take top England beat spot, Chelsea Ireland 18-7 up to second Sunday, November 22, 2020 TENNIS Rabia II 7, 1442 AH Thiem outlasts GULF TIMES Djokovic to reach ATP Finals title match SPORT Page 7 Sheikh Joaan crowns winners at Amir Cup shooting and QOC Challenge 2020 Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani (centre) with the winners on Day 10 of the Amir Cup Shooting and Qatar Olympic Committee President HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani attends the final day of the Archery Competition at Losail Shooting Range yesterday. QOC Multi Games — Challenge 2020 at Doha Sports Park Lusail and crowns the winners. FOCUS Qatar 2022 will be fi rst global festival post-Covid: al-Khater ‘We will no doubt host an exceptional tournament that will make the Middle East, Asia and the footballing world proud’ journey that began in of grass as those in FIFA World and enhancing mutual under- December 2010 now Cup stadiums. Three-time Asian standing between people from all only has less than two champions Iran have already around the globe. We saw this for years to go. trained on the 2022 training example in Japan and Korea in AQatar as hosts have worked facilities and so too have India 2002, where the tournament was hard on bringing to reality the ahead of the Asian Qualifi ers for not only a celebration of football concepts and projects they high- the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 but also of East Asian cultures. lighted in their winning bid for and AFC Asian Cup China 2023 In 2022, we want everyone to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, have last September. The facilities not only enjoy incredible football been delivering infrastructure were also used during the Gulf on the pitch, but also experi- projects way ahead of time which Cup last year. ence our renowned hospitality, is a rarity these days in other The Qatar Football Asso- learn about our culture and host countries, and are focussed ciation have MoUs with many traditions, and leave Qatar with on leaving a legacy at home and member FAs of the confed- a better understanding of the around the world. eration, which entails exten- region’s people and their peace- As these eff orts come to frui- sive usage of Qatar’s football ful, humorous, passionate and tion, West Asia’s fi rst hosting infrastructure by senior and age- hospitable nature. of the tournament will be both FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 CEO group national teams of various unique and exciting, promises Nasser al-Khater. AFC Member Associations. The The compact nature of Qatar FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 CEO ready availability of the training 2022 will make it a unique Nasser al-Khater. sary precautions for workers, in grounds will be an important experience for Asian fans. line with the Covid-19 preventa- Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor will host the opening match of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on November 21. aspect in the post-2022 techni- West Asian fans are football Qatar 2022’s roll out plan tive measures and interim guide- cal development of many Asian mad and fans from China and of the remaining fi ve stadi- lines recommended by Qatar’s the success of this tournament. industries, or other legacy initia- tion of the 2020 AFC Champions football nations. India were in the top three of ums – what are the tentative Ministry of Public Health (MoPH). If I had to pick one, I would say tives, the positive impact of this League despite temperatures in nations whose fans visited timelines and has Covid-19 For example, masks and the biggest challenge over the tournament can already be felt Qatar nearing 38 degrees centi- The fi rst Asian FIFA World Russia 2018 despite their upset plans? sanitisers were distributed past ten years has been trans- far and wide. grade in September, whereas tem- Cup was hosted in the East in teams not qualifying. What Nearly 90% of all tournament across World Cup projects; forming the innovative concepts We are confi dent that the FIFA peratures inside the stadiums that Japan and Korea. How impor- message do you have to fans infrastructure has been complet- workers’ temperatures are taken we presented in our bid for the World Cup Qatar 2022 will not hosted the tournament ranged tant is it for the FIFA World from the AFC region wanting ed – a degree of readiness that twice daily; a suffi cient number tournament from vision to real- only be remembered for being between 21 and 22C. Cup to be staged in diff erent to come to Qatar? no FIFA World Cup host country of isolation rooms have been ity on the ground. a highly successful tourna- Post-2022, we are open continents and cultures? We are certain that Qatar 2022 has achieved this far out from established on all SC sites; non- Today, with 10 years com- ment, but one that heralded a to share our knowledge and Over the last few decades, foot- will be a unique FIFA World Cup, the tournament kick-off date. essential visitors to construction pleted on our journey to 2022 new mega-event hosting model expertise regarding the cooling ball has grown to become a sport with a compact nature that will We have inaugurated three sites have been prohibited and and two years to go, I am proud that future hosts nations can technology with other football that has garnered huge interest mean the entire tournament stadiums to date – including awareness sessions were deliv- and confi dent in saying that we follow to ensure optimum and associations from AFC na- and investment from all around will be an unparalleled football Khalifa International, Al Janoub ered to workers on all sites. will no doubt host an exceptional multifaceted benefi t and return tions. For example, it could be a the world, and not only from and cultural festival where fans and Education City – while our In addition, workers with tournament that will make the on investment for local and sur- consideration for the three East traditional footballing powers in and visitors will make lifelong fourth, Al Rayyan, is set to be chronic diseases and those Middle East, Asia and the entire rounding regions. Asian giants – Japan, Korea and Europe and South America. memories along every touch launched on December 18 two over 55 have been temporarily footballing world proud. China – who already have won- This is especially true in Asia, point and experience. years out from the 2022 fi nal. taken off projects due to their A key priority for us has There are two main pan-Asian derful infrastructure in place, where we have seen how the It will be the fi rst time in the All remaining stadiums and vulnerability to Covid-19. These also been ensuring that the legacies of Qatar 2022. One, but play a substantial chunk of sport has enabled the building of history of the tournament where supporting tournament infra- workers continue to receive tournament accelerates social, air-conditioned stadiums. And their domestic seasons during world-class infrastructure and fans can get to watch more than structure will be completed next their salaries in line with Qatari environmental and economic two, modular seating, disman- the summer months. teams. When you combine this one match per day, all whilst still year, well ahead of kick-off on government policy. development in Qatar, the tlable stadiums and FIFA- In India, too, football is on the with the widespread passion for being able to soak in the culture, November 21, 2022. We continue to review the region and Asia wherever pos- compliant training grounds for rise and infrastructure because the game across Asia, you have a sights and sounds of Qatar. During No doubt, the Covid-19 pan- situation on a daily basis. sible, and leaves a lasting posi- developing football nations. of this as well as due to the host- strong partner in the continent non-match days, there will be sun, demic put the world in unchart- tive legacy. How do you see this panning ing of the 2017 FIFA U-17 World that actively contributes to the sand and beaches to enjoy and ed territory, and we had to adapt Asia’s second FIFA World Today, we are proud to say that out in the future? Cup is improving. growth and development of delicious Arabic, Persian, Indian, as is the case with all major Cup has faced many chal- we have also delivered against Right from when we bid for And while the Indian domestic global football – starting at the Chinese and Thai cuisines avail- projects around the world. lenges during preparations. this, and will continue to do so in the tournament, we committed season is not scheduled during grassroots level and through to able in plenty to sample. We implemented a proactive What has been the most chal- the lead up to and after 2022. to ensuring that it is one that the summer, many cities are the game’s showpiece event – For many fans in Asia, it will and robust prevention and miti- lenging to date? Whether through landmark leaves a lasting legacy for Qatar, along the coastline and humidity the FIFA World Cup. And for the also be the closest FIFA World gation strategy early in the crisis Hosting any major sporting workers’ welfare standards, Asia and the world, and supports is a major factor. Therefore our game to truly grow, it has to be Cup to attend in recent years, that contributed signifi cantly event of the magnitude of the increased economic collabora- the development of the game.