Asmaa Mohammed
In moments of great joy and pride, words falter, phrases falter, and the tongue fails to express. This is how I feel whenever someone asks me about my opinion about our beloved Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Thanks to its hosting of the World Cup, the lQatar has become the topic of each and every conversation globally, and its name has been rolling off the the tongues of all fans worldwide. I have always been proud of belonging to this great country, enchanted by being a product of this prosperous land, but today I am prouder, because we have achieved what was considered by many, impossible and we succeeded, despite all the hurdles and obstacles we faced, in organizing the world’s grandest sports celebration!
What has always distinguished Qatar and its people, is their courage in facing adversity, and their drive to always overcoming, in order to achieve the unachievable . If we apply this to the topic of hosting the World Cup, we will find that, from the very first moment, Qatar believed in its capabilities organizing such a prestigious event, and so it did, without allowing the unfounded, negative criticism to derail it. Just as the country was triumphant in its preparations to host the global event, it also found triumph amongst all the delegations it received, which will no doubt mark a new chapter in its history, and the beginning of future successes in organizing the most prestigious international events, whether in the sports, political or economic spheres.
We do not speak out of thin air, the evidence is robust and clear to anyone who carried doubt in their heart, or cast scrutiny while acting the role of a martyr.
In fulfilling all its obligations before the FIFA, and in implementing what was promised years ago, Qatar succeeded in constructing state-of-the-art sports stadiums that feature innovative designs, and masterfully blend Qatari architecture, its cultural heritage, and its rich and diverse multi-national ethnicities, which successfully resulted in developing exceptional engineering masterpieces that capture our hearts before enchanting our eyes.
In addition to the construction of these exceptional stadiums for the 2022 World Cup, and in line with Qatar’s National Vision 2030, our country's hosting of this global event radically elevated and transformed itsnational infrastructure. This is mainly evident in major projects such as the construction of the Doha Metro, the expansion of Hamad International Airport, the development of a host of new road networks, erecting a plethora of international level hotels, and many others achievements.More than 30 new hotels, resorts and tourist destinations have been unveiled so far in the country.
These entertainment spaces feature many tourist attractions such as Al Maha Island, Winter Wonderland, North Qetaifan Island and others. This will clearly contribute to an economic renaissance and will lead to further development, that will succeed the World Cup long after its conclusion on the 18th of December.
Qatar is a proud Arab country with a unique Islamic identity and heritage, and that was clearly reflected in the World Cup opening ceremony, which was an exceptional event by all standards and accounts. For the first time in history, the task of organizing was entrusted to an Arab and a Muslim country, and for the first time, this huge event is being organized in the Gulf region and the Middle East. Us Qataris expect our dear guests to appreciate our cultural uniqueness, and to respect our societal peculiarities, and adapt as we Arabs do, to the customs and traditions of those who host us and receive us with open arms abroad.
This beautiful event also represents a great coup for all organizers, participants and visitors alike, who yearn for a spectacular and grand World Cup, marked by its positivity, and distinguished by its festive atmosphere, Qatari and Arab spirit, whose motto is the celebration of undisrupted sportsmanship. In this context, the 2022 World Cup will be an ideal opportunity for many to get to experience Qatar personally, away from perpetuated misconceptions and prejudices. It will also allow every Qatari to act as an honorable ambassador for our beloved country through exhibiting honorable, morals and behavior.
As for the sport itself, we will champion our Al-Annabi team with the same passion we always carry in our hearts and more, and we will all pray for their victory and to qualify for the finals in the tournament, and hopefully win the biggest trophy of them all. Speaking of firsts, for the very first time in FIFA World Cup history, this years edition will feature three women referees and three others who assist them in managing some of the matches. It is a historic opportunity for these women to leave a good impression and to act as reflection of the development and progress achieved by women in various fields, including those that until recently remained predominantly led by men.
There is no doubt that the Qatar’s contributions will be felt inside and outside the stadiums and through the various accompanying cultural and entertainment events that are taking place, such as the FIFA Fan Festival in Al Bidda Park, for example. The FIFA World Cup - Qatar 2022 will be a global celebration, through which Qatar will erect a bridge of love between the East and the West, and will be a golden chapter in the history books, written by those who watch over this beautiful country - under the helm of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani - who through his wise leadership, was able to turn our dreams into a glittering reality that we all live with great and incomparable pride.
