As days roll by, more and more appreciation is pouring in for the organization of the FIFA World Cup 2022 from all sections of the visitors – be it politicians, diplomats, former footballers, current players, and most importantly the thousands of football fans, who are flowing into the country daily.
Many former and current players have praised the compact nature of Qatar 2022 as it gives every team the luxury of staying at the same accommodation and training at the same grounds throughout the tournament, thus saving a lot of time travelling from one venue to other like in earlier tournaments.
Meanwhile, many diplomats have praised Qatar’s efforts in leaving a legacy through the various programmes they are organizing like the successful Street Child World Cup and the recently launched ‘One Million and One’, a global campaign to secure birth registrations for one million and one children living in street situations worldwide.
But the main highlight among all the bouquets must be that of the visiting ordinary fans. They were highly appreciative of the facilities Qatar has put in place including transportation options, entertainment zones and general safety and security. Many were surprised to note that Qatar has put in place hundreds of free buses to transport fans from main points all around the country, which is unheard of previously.
Some fans were quoted in a media report saying that they wished they had more match tickets as they didn’t buy many initially after reading all the malicious reports against the World Cup and Qatar. Once they landed in Doha, all the misconceptions were quickly quelled and the whole experience was so pleasant, they were regretting not getting more tickets as moving between stadiums was so easy and it’s all free, which is a first for any country.
Another point most visiting fans stressed was the ease of passing through the airports in the country and how quick the whole process is. A fan, who has travelled to many countries for various sporting events over the years, was so impressed, he said that never in his life he had checked out of an airport, with baggage, so fast that too when airports are witnessing multiple times the traffic than usual. The arrangements, be it immigration, customs, or baggage handling, have been like a fine concert that thousands of people pass through each step in perfect harmony. All the departments have come together to make this a memorable World Cup for the fans.
The fans will carry back with them fond memories of one of the most efficient and safest World Cups and will start looking at the region in a positive light.
