By Paul Nicholson in Qatar
December 18 – In exactly four years’ time Qatar will be hosting the final of the 2022 World Cup in the Lusail Stadium in Lusail City. It will be a double celebration for the country, whether they make the final or not, as December 18 is their National Day.
Last weekend the designs for the stadium were unveiled and a media visit to the stadium that is growing out of the desert like a scene from a science fiction movie. It was the first time that you could physically see how near the World Cup is and have a sense of how great an occasion it will be. It marked the next phase of Qatar’s preparation to host the world.
Hassan Al Thawadi (pictured), the mercurial leader of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee that is responsible for delivering the World Cup, said: “Stadiums are going along according to schedule. They are finalised and all construction work will be done by 2020. The infrastructure work is also on schedule to be operational by 2020…the metro links, the expressways and so on. We are now moving to the operational phase and the capacity to deliver.”
Qatar is a country that embarked on a remarkable journey when in 2010 it won the rights to host to the World Cup. No other World Cup host has promised so much for football or used the event to empower a huge social and economic change within the country and global change in perception of itself but also Arab culture. National Day in Qatar is a good time to reflect on what has been achieve and what is being achieved as it is a voyage that is far from over.
“The journey has been up and down more than once and there is no doubt it has been very intense, but it is one (the journey) that every day confirms why we did this. We see the results on the ground, in the excitement of the people and how it has changed their lives. This is the right time, this is for us a transformational moment, and for the region,” said Al Thawadi.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about Qatar. One of them is that we are not a football nation, until today. We have changed some hearts and minds, we are committed to that change. We suffered a lot of criticism. Some of it constructive that we welcomed. Others were unfounded criticisms based on misinformation. Today our most ardent critics have changed. They have changed as a result of getting to know us and seeing what has changed on the ground.”
It has not been an easy journey for the Qataris, and one not made easier by its political stand-off with the group of Saudi Arabian-led neighbours and their blockade. With National Day delivering a show of pride and celebration in their country, there is also a focus on what Qatar has to offer and the World Cup it will deliver for the world.
“Qatar is known for its sun, sand and beaches, something we are very very proud of and we are very happy to showcase our culture and our hospitality…This will be a World Cup with an Arabic feel and we are very excited to host and welcome fans.”
It will also be one of the most accessible World Cups ever for fans watching on TV and more than likely will be the most watched World Cup ever. “The central geographical location means people from China (for example) can watch most if not all of the matches in a reasonable primetime viewing slot, as will most people in the west,” said Al Thawadi.
National Day in Qatar is a good time to reflect on what has been and what will come on the this 2022 World Cup voyage of discovery. Scrape away the football and geo-politics and you find a nation that stimulating its economy and building a future, from sustainable new technologies to encouraging an entrepreneurial culture – at the same time sitting alongside a respect and recognition of its traditional culture.
Even its football team are stepping up. Qatar recently beat European Nations League finalists Switzerland 1-0 in a friendly. Could December 18, 2022, be a triple celebration – National Day, hosting of the final of the world’s biggest sports event, and a Qatari team being crowned victors? The third part of this hat-trick might be a bit far off but amazing things are happening in this football country.
Contact the writer of this story at moc.l1734805992labto1734805992ofdlr1734805992owedi1734805992sni@n1734805992osloh1734805992cin.l1734805992uap1734805992