The year 2020 affected the world of sports badly with the coronavirus pandemic forcing cancellation or postponement of major competitions which also include the Tokyo Olympics. But Qatar stood tall in a testing year and gave starving sports fans some much-needed action in the year.
The COVID-19 also disturbed the sports season in Qatar but it turned out to be one of the few countries, which recovered quickly and did not let the pandemic ruin the sports season. Qata not just completed its own sports season in a befitting manner, it also rescued some big events from being swept away completely.
Qatar’s achievement of delivering the successful 2019-2020 AFC Champions League, which was on verge of cancellation due to COVID-19 threats, will last for long in the memory of the Asian football family. Qatar stepped in a big challenge and came out of it with flying colours by hosting matches of both West and East Zones, and the final in which Ulsan Hyundai defeated Iran’s Persepolis.
Qatar offered the best facilities to all in a bio-secure environment with matches being played on its top football stadiums including the FIFA World Cup 2022 venues. The AFC President Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa praised the efforts and thanked Qatar on numerous occasions for rescuing the season.
Not just the AFC officials, the players and coaches also showered praise on Qatar. “In my opinion, Qataris kept Asian football alive and we, across the whole continent, should be extremely grateful to them,” said Persepolis head coach Yahya Golmohammadi.
Last week, Qatari organisers also ensured action for local fans by completing a football season with the Amir Cup final on Qatar National Day. It was a unique occasion as Al Rayyan’s Ahmed bin Ali Stadium was inaugurated with the title-deciding game in front of 20,000 fans. Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium is the fourth World Cup venue to be inaugurated and speaks of Qatar’s commitment to host a memorable FIFA World Cup.
Not just in football, all the federations rose to the challenge and completed their season by ensuring all health preventive measures. In September when the rest of the world was reeling, Doha successfully played host to the final meet of the Diamond League season in which many athletes including 27 World and Olympic medalists participated.
In a nutshell, Qatar has passed the year that brought unprecedented challenges with flying colours and the world will remember it for a long time to come. The nation proved it can brave difficulties with sheer hard work, commitment and the teamwork. With the year 2021expected to bring an end to the virus woes, no matter what, Qatar will continue to rise and shine.
