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Qatar / Health

Qatar 2022: A platform for health, safety

Published: 11 Dec 2022 - 08:21 am | Last Updated: 11 Dec 2022 - 08:23 am
Peninsula

Fazeena Saleem | The Peninsula

With the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 approaching semi finals, enthusiasm continues to rise and several unique features related to the tournament being appreciated. 

As Qatar takes centre stage of world sports, the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and World Health Organisation (WHO) are driving forward efforts to help make the global celebration of football a platform for health and safety, and aims to leave a legacy for sport and health for other nations hosting future mega sporting events. 

Total tobacco ban inside stadiums and availability of 30% healthy food and snack options, make this a healthier FIFA World Cup. Besides, messages about health promotion, food safety and access to care  are relatively more visible during this World Cup. 

“With several initiatives such as no smoking and no drinking at the World Cup stadiums as well as healthy food in the stadium will help people to follow the idea of healthy lifestyle,” WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said recently. 

“This World Cup is a pathfinder in sports and health joint initiative and this will help billions of people around the world to follow healthy lifestyle,” he said during the first Walk the Talk Doha: Health for all Challenge.

Several health promoting activities are being held by MoPH and WHO, within ‘Sport For Health’ partnership and in collaboration with FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC). 

“World Cup encourages adopting healthy life style. I took part in the Walk the Talk Doha and it motivated me to start walking daily,” said Aaseeyah, a Palestinian resident during a match screening at Education City’s Oxygen Park.

Layla, a Syrian resident said, “Many healthy and safe steps are being implemented during the World Cup and we hope such actions will be taken as an example by other countries also.” 

Health Through My Lens, a photography exhibition which highlights people’s unique interpretation of what health means to them. The exhibition is an initiative of the ‘Sport For Health’ partnership and hosted by Qatar Foundation in Oxygen Park.

Thirty-two “Friendship Benches” — one for each nation competing in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 — have been installed in prominent Doha locations, including the precincts of tournament stadiums.   The initiative aims to promote the critical importance of mental health and the role the football and more broadly sport can play to promote mental wellbeing.

Meanwhile, an online survey has been launched to assist in understanding the impact of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on people’s health and mental wellbeing.