Hatem Boukhit, a Qatar 2022 volunteer.
Doha: Still in the glow of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 excitement, members of the largest volunteer activation in Qatar take pride about their involvement in the tournament.
A total of 20,000 enthusiastic volunteers were deployed at official and non-official sites such as stadiums, training sites, the airport, fan zones, hotels, and public transportation hubs during the most anticipated event. Tunisian volunteer and staff at Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Hatem Boukhit, was a media assistant at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
“In my view, volunteers have been the heartbeat of this tournament. It was a chance to gain new skills, make friends and create a lifetime of memories. I think all volunteering roles were pivotal to the success of this event and I was thrilled to be chosen as a media operations volunteer, with team members from all around the world,” he said.
Every volunteer had to attend a minimum of eight shifts during the tournament. Most of the shifts started at 10 am and ended around 9 pm. Boukhit’s first shift was during the game between Uruguay and Korea.
“I had the chance to see famous players in the mixed zone, like Son Heung-min from Korea, Edinson Cavani and Luis Suarez from Uruguay, and it was a moment to remember,” said Boukhit.
His second shift was during the match between Saudi Arabia and Poland and was in the media center helping the journalists and media and printing tickets. Boukhit’s third experience was special because Tunisia played against France, and he was in the rope ceremony, face to face with Kylian Mbappé, Olivier Giroud, and Theo Hernandez, players he had watched on television only.
“At that moment I needed to keep focusing on the photographers, ensuring they did not cross the line without interfering and ruining their shots and at the same time enjoy the moment. When I heard the Tunisian national anthem I got goosebumps, and this was one of my best moments as a volunteer,” said Boukhit.
Speaking about his experience Boukhit said, “I enjoyed the challenge of helping the media experts. I learned new skills and grew in confidence. The experience has directed my interest towards pursuing a career in media.” In his role as a media operations volunteer in the Education City Stadium Boukhit worked inside the media center.
“I was also in the media tribune, which had the best view in the stadium and was dedicated to the commentators and broadcast camera. I considered this place the heart of the media, where you will discover how different media works. As a volunteer, I needed to help them and make everything work smoothly,” said Boukhit.
In reply to a question about his inspiration to become a World Cup volunteer, Boukhit said, “The most inspirational factor was that this World Cup was held in Qatar, an evolved country that keeps surprising us all with its advanced technologies and infrastructure.”
