With less than a year before the FIFA World Cup, Qatar has successfully completed its dress rehearsal with the Arab Cup. Even if, of course, the World Cup will be a level well above.
An original and appreciated opening ceremony, a quality tournament, around 530,000 spectators present and many positive feedbacks … The small emirate, which is eagerly awaited on the reception of the World Cup where the French team will defend its title, can be satisfied with the organization of the Arab Cup which ended a few days ago with the victory of Algeria against Tunisia (2-0 ap).
It must be said that out of the 32 games (played over 19 days), 83 goals were scored, an average of 2.59 per game. Suffice to say that the spectacle will have been there for a competition where the teams (in particular Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt for the best known in Europe) were made up of “local” players (playing in their national championship or in the countries Gulf).
Sports, safety and health satisfaction
“The Arab Cup provided us with a golden opportunity to test our level of preparation for the World Cup,” said Fatma Al-Nuaimi, Executive Director of Communications of the Organizing Committee of the World Cup. 2022 in Qatar. It served as a showcase leading up to next year’s World Cup, which will introduce millions of people to Middle Eastern culture and Arab hospitality. We are proud of the many advances that we have been able to achieve, whether on the competition venues which are ultramodern, on ticket office performances (with the sports attendance record in Qatar), on means of transport, or on exceptional organization and hospitality. We believe the foundations are in place to host a truly exceptional World Cup next year. ”
One year before high mass, the eight stadiums which will host the competition are 100% ready. “This is the first time in the history of the World Cup, and in my memory of the contemporary history of sporting events, that the infrastructure of the host country is 100% ready to host the tournament one year before its start date, underlines the director. We have achieved a level of preparation that no World Cup host country can match – and we are extremely proud of that. ”
The Arab Cup served as a showcase before the World CupFatma Al-Nuaimi, Executive Director of Communications, 2022 World Cup Organizing Committee
Safety, particularly health with the Covid-19 pandemic, was also an expected issue during this Arab Cup. At this level, the Emirate has also been satisfied. “We have been able to practice, learn and refine our processes in many areas, including security, transport, fan activities and the new fan ID card – the Fan ID card – which has been implemented. place this month for the first time, says Fatma Al-Nuaimi. In line with the Organizing Committee’s priority of preserving the safety of all participants in the Arab Cup – and in coordination with the Ministry of Public Health – the tournament was held with a number of essential health and safety measures. security, details the director. Tournament participants also had to be fully vaccinated or be able to prove that they had recovered from the virus within nine months of participating in a match. ”
Obviously, everything is still far from perfect and 100% ready. “Several national infrastructure projects are still under development, but will be ready for the tournament,” reveals Fatma Al-Nuaimi. These include the expansion of Hamad International Airport, which will allow us to accommodate 53 million passengers per year by the time of the tournament, as well as the upgrading of roads across the country and plans for embellishment so that Qatar is ready to welcome tourists from all over the world next year. ”
Note that tickets will go on sale at the start of the New Year, followed by the launch of the World Cup mascot and poster, and of course the official draw (1er April).
Regarding human rights violations, particularly of immigrant workers or sexual minorities, on which Qatar has been regularly accused since it obtained the rights to organize the 2022 World Cup, the executive director of communication of the Committee in charge of the he organization of the World Cup was clear. “Qatar is excited and we look forward to welcoming fans from all over the world to next year’s tournament, which will be the biggest event ever in the Middle East and the Arab world,” she said. We hope that it will dispel certain prejudices and that it will leave a positive social, economic and cultural legacy for our country and the region as a whole – from the start of the project this was a priority for us, eleven years ago. ”