Sheikh Dr. Thani bin Ali Al Thani (second right), Vice-President of Qatar Lawyers Association and Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Atlas of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022; Former national team player and Qatar 2022 Legacy Ambassador Ibrahim Khalfan (first left); Dr. Buthaina Al Ansari (second left), Strategic Development and Human Resources Advisor and author of Countdown-Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022; and Aysha Al Ansari, Head of the Heritage Collection at Qatar National Library during the panel discussion at QNL, yesterday.
Doha: The hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 established Qatar as a leading destination for sports and cultural events. A glimpse of Qatari culture was seen during the opening ceremony of the World Cup, which reflected the history of the country’s heritage.
In celebration of Qatar National Sport Day (NSD), Qatar National Library (QNL) hosted a panel discussion that explored the golden age of Qatari football and showcased the achievements of the pioneers of the sport. It also highlighted the artists and authors who documented the national identity through their works.
Addressing the event, Sheikh Dr. Thani bin Ali Al Thani, Vice-President of the Qatar Lawyers Association and Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Atlas of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 said the Atlas contains geographic and general information about the countries that participated in the World Cup, in addition to information about their national teams and their participation in previous tournaments. The Atlas is available both in Arabic and English.
He also noted another book will be published in mid-March, which will highlight the heritage of the Qatar 2022.
Speaking about the planned events for future, Sheikh Dr. Thani said, “There are so many things we can talk about after the World Cup. Qatar readied infrastructure, besides facilities such as Hamad International Airport, Doha and Hamad Ports, hotels and tourist facilities.” Answering a query about law on sports, he said, “Sports law is comprehensive law, there are decisions that have been undertaken and we should have a standardised and unified sports law.” Dr. Buthaina Al Ansari, Strategic Development and Human Resources Advisor, and author of Countdown-Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022 discussed about her book and topics it covers regarding the World Cup.
Al Ansari said, “It is important for us to highlight Qatar National Vision 2030 and preserving wellbeing of the future generations. The book highlights the history of the World Cup and the eight stadiums and sheds light on what was the idea behind these facilities.” Qatar is keen to transform its economy into a knowledge-based economy that is based on intellect, statistics and data. Hosting of the World Cup 2022 highlighted the importance of documentation process, she added.
Aysha Al Ansari, Head of the Heritage Collection at Qatar National Library said, “At Qatar National Library, we believe in preserving and sharing our cultural heritage and the impact it has on our nation. The legacy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and its influence on Qatari culture is immeasurable, and we are honoured to bring together a panel of experts to share their insights and perspectives on this historic event.”
The event provided a unique perspective on the history of Qatari football and the successful hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Other speakers during the event included former national team player and Qatar 2022 Legacy Ambassador Ibrahim Khalfan, football collectors Majed Al Shuqairi and Ahmed Al Kuwari.
