Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup has proved a basket of firsts and broke a lot of records, but more than holding the biggest football event in the country and enjoying the fruits of the labour tagging this 22nd edition as the ‘Best World Cup ever’, it had introduced the culture and tradition of Qatar to the world.
Football fans donned the customised ghutra (headdress) with the colours of the country, besides supporting the golden bisht (traditional men’s cloak), when Argentine captain, Lionel Messi was honoured shortly before he took to the stage to lift the World Cup trophy. Fans and the public proudly exhibited the Qatari culture, embracing it on their arms as they showed it to the world.
Qatar hosted thousands of cultural activation where a parade of craft and heritage, visual arts, fashion and design, performing arts, film and screening, and music were introduced day and night to millions of fans who travelled all the way to enjoy the atmosphere of the country during the quadrennial event.
These cultural events brought new perspectives about Qatar, where fans have repeatedly said that they had fun in the country and this is not what they expected – which is attributed to the unfair and negative media campaigns Qatar has been receiving when it won the bid to the host the World Cup and even now.
For instance, the Cultural Village Foundation, Katara carried grand activities and events even before the World Cup started. It had 51 main events, 300 sub-activities with the participation of 22 countries.
Overall, it hosted 20 exhibitions that focused on sports and arts. The village has been known for years to be the hub for the exchange of cultures.
At the Corniche, a street festival was held all throughout the World Cup, presenting the Qatari culture and cultures of other countries participating in the football spectacle.
The carnival-like atmosphere along the Corniche celebrated nations from all around the world, not just this country.
There were over 29 global street celebrations, 6km spectacular acts, over 150 food outlets, live stages, daily water and light shows, and family and child-friendly entertainment.
Qatar’s a plethora of museums and gallery spaces were also at the centre of Doha’s thriving cultural landscape. From traditional Islamic craft and historical objects to modern and contemporary art, this diverse network had a vast amount to offer to visiting fans from across the world.
