Dr. Khalid Al-Shafi
Twelve years of effort and hard work were consumed to reach this day. The efforts paid off, and today we have reached the opening of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. It is the most popular and watched game in the world. The matches will start after the opening ceremony tonight, and our national team will play the first match in the World Cup with Ecuador.
The great success achieved by our wise leadership in obtaining the hosting rights of the World Cup in Qatar made it the first Arab and Islamic country to have the privilege of organising this international sporting event.
Since Qatar won the right of hosting the event, allegations have been directed to it in a fierce attack that no country has been subjected to before. This reflects hateful envy and that is why when the date came closer, the pace of allegations increased.
We in Qatar are well aware that we are moving in the right direction, and that Qatar is working to organise an exceptional championship that will not be repeated elsewhere. Qatar has spent a lot on infrastructure projects and assured the world that its readiness and its capabilities exceed many countries that hosted these tournaments. We worked silently and under the supervision and direct follow-up of the wise leadership.
We will not talk about the attacks against Qatar because we are honest with ourselves and we know their goals and who are behind these attacks, but there must be a review after the end of the World Cup, to set things straight, by making transparent decisions.
It must be noted that the success has many enemies. Qatar is accustomed to the arrows of criticism, which were not limited to hosting the World Cup, although it took the lion’s share, but they became much intensified, and their sources and centres diversified.
However, the courageous stances of Qatar during the past years at international forums and its endeavours to find solutions to some regional conflicts and advocating for the rights of peoples and human rights stipulated in international covenants constituted a response to these allegations and doubts about our honourable stances, which are based on principles and values that Qatar will not deviate from.
His Highness the Amir speaking before the Shura Council about this onslaught of accusations against Qatar, said, “Since Qatar won the honour of hosting the World Cup, the country has been subjected to an unprecedented campaign that no host country has been subjected to, and that it dealt with the matter in the beginning in good faith and even some criticism is positive and helpful.”
These are the positions of H H the Amir, always putting good intentions at the forefront, and relying on his people, he fulfilled the promise to achieve the great football event, which will be a milestone in the history of football.
The accusations themselves are not a problem but rather it was the presence of people and countries behind these allegations who cast doubts on Qatar’s capabilities and ability to host the event. All these were aimed to hinder Qatar’s success in hosting the tournament.
The flag of my country fluttered high and it marched towards supremacy and leadership. Qatar today is not what it was several years ago, thanks to the successive successes and the supervision and guidance of our wise leadership.
We will win and the World Cup in Qatar will be an icon that will not be repeated and an event that will dominate the sports history through the ages.
Last but not least, we pray to Allah Almighty success and victory for our dear team in this World Cup. My country does not recognise anything impossible and there is nothing in its agenda that is difficult to achieve. We succeeded and we will do our best to soar high moving from one victory to another, and do not disgrace haters and envious people who are trying to undermine Qatar. Long live free and proud, may Allah protect my country and our leadership with all goodness.
