By Armstrong Vas
Doha: FIFA President Gianni Infantino has insisted that the 2022 World Cup will be hosted by Qatar as planned and the football show piece event will be a Cup of ‘unity, respect and tolerance’ and leave a ‘tremendous legacy’ in the whole world.
“Of course, the World Cup will take place in Qatar in 2022,” Infantino said in response to a question during a press conference at the end of his two-day tour to Qatar which will host the event in six years time.
“I am convinced that World Cup 2022 will have an absolutely tremendous impact. In a particular time where in the world we need to speak about respect, inclusion, I am convinced that this will be the World Cup of unity, respect and tolerance. This will be the tremendous legacy that 2022 will leave not only to Qatar and the Middle East, but to the whole world,” the 46-year-old Swiss, who took over as the FIFA chief two months back said.
Infantino also announced the creation of a special working group consisting of independent members to monitor the systems are in place at FIFA World Cup stadiums.
“I have proposed concretely an initiative, which they (Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy) have also welcomed. This is the creation of a new oversight body led by FIFA, including independent members, and key stakeholders, to oversee all FIFA competitions. This oversight body will validate the quality and effectiveness of the due diligence process.”
“The oversight body will be related to all World Cup tournaments and will be led by FIFA and include stakeholders, to ensure what we say will be delivered. It will put an additional layer of monitoring and control, because it is important. If positive things are going to happen anyway, which I’m convinced of, then this body will have an easy task,” he added while concluding his two-day visit to with a visit to the 2016 Workers Cup semi-finals at the QFA Technical Centre in Doha.
Infantino said there are challenges ahead and said they need to be tackled. “We know there are challenges, we understand that it is a process but we will move ahead.”
Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary- General of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), welcomed the setting up of the new body.
“We welcome the approach of FIFA to add an independent monitoring body, which will add to our independent monitor, Impactt, and oversee the progress taking place on the ground. It exemplifies the spirit of what international tournaments can and will achieve. We are on schedule to deliver on our promises, in terms of infrastructure, legacy projects, and other initiatives which showcase the breadth of vision we have and the importance we put on 2022 in Qatar, the first World Cup in the Arab and Islamic world, and what it can achieve.” Al Thawadi said.
“We are making sure that this World Cup achieves its goals to act as a catalyst for positive change, not only in Qatar but also in the region,” he added. The FIFA President was very pleased by the positive reaction and the support offered by the Qatari authorities for the new initiative.
Infantino met Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani and the Prime Minister and Interior Minister H E Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani during his visit. “It is a matter of pride my presence in Qatar, and the pleasure of meeting the Emir of Qatar, and to see personal commitment given by the Prime Minister, for the finals of the 2022 World Cup.
The hosting of the FIFA World Cup is an opportunity to set a benchmark in terms of sustainable and fair working conditions for all workers in Qatar. We are aware of our responsibilities and our duties, and if we can help achieve changes beyond football then we will do so. I was very pleased to see the personal commitment of the relevant authorities in Qatar, he added.
Infantino on Thursday visited the Labour City and said the World Cup preparations were moving in the right direction. “Over the past two days I have been able to personally witness what has been done, and I am confident we are on the right track. The policy has been decided by the highest authorities, the regulation is put in place and the enforcement is underway. There is a clear commitment at the highest level.”
The Peninsula
