The State of Qatar yesterday entered the final phase in its marvellous journey towards hosting first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East. This is exactly one year from now to blow the whistle for the first World Cup match in Qatar. It is a unique and special moment for Qatar as a host country as it has put the country on track to deliver a mega sporting event that will surely set new benchmark for social, human, economic and environmental development.
As part of celebration to mark ‘one year to go’ milestone until the much-awaited tournament, Qatar Airways, Official Airline of FIFA, delivered a special fly-by above all eight FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums with the iconic Winner’s Trophy and a special FIFA legend on board.
The completion of the construction work at all eight tournament stadiums a year before the tournament, comes at a time when the State of Qatar has become the most important center for hosting various types of international sports activities, among them Formula One race for the first time in its history.
This month will also witness launch of the first FIFA Arab World Cup.
The announcement was also made on Saturday by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) about completion of Stadium 974, which is the seventh tournament venue. At the same time the finishing touches were recently applied to Lusail Stadium - the 80,000-capacity venue that will host next year’s final on December 18.
In the journey to prepare for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the State of Qatar built seven venues from the scratch, applying the highest standards and they are winning praise for their sustainable design and construction. Qatari stadiums are designed to deliver a carbon-neutral tournament using renewable energy solutions.
“After 11 years of hard work and lasting progress, we are well on the way towards delivering the first World Cup in our region – one that will leave a profound legacy for Qatar, the region and the entire world,” said Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.
The achievements made within the framework of the efforts to host the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 also confirm that Qatar fulfills its commitments meeting all requirements of sustainable and standards. Since the construction operations were carried out throughout the 11 years under transparent system which enabled the local and global entities concerned to make close follow up of the construction progress of the stadiums.
This was accompanied by broader reforms aimed at protecting workers’ rights engaged in the construction of the World Cup venues, an achievement earned praises of international human rights organizations and the International Labor Organization.
