With around 100 days to go before the FIFA World Cup kicks off at Al Bayt Stadium, the hosts are putting final touches to the preparations. From transportation to accommodation and a lineup of cultural activities, Qatar is ready to welcome around 1.5 million football fans from across the world to the first World Cup in the Arab world.
Like in other areas, authorities have put in place an elaborate plan to provide healthcare during the tournament. The Ministry of Public Health, Hamad Medical Corporation and the Primary Health Care Corporation will also be joined by teams from Aspetar, Sidra Medicine, Qatar Red Crescent, Qatar Armed Forces, the Ministry of Interior and Qatar Energy Health Services to deliver healthcare services in stadiums, fan zones, training sites and other areas. HMC’s Ambulance Service will also play a major role in providing medical services at the competition and non-competition venues.
Qatar’s healthcare sector has the experience of covering large scale sporting events, and has performed exceedingly well in ensuring public health at mega events, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has gradually enhanced the capacity of the public healthcare system over the years, enabling it to cater to Qatar’s population as well as the large number of visitors expected at the World Cup. Since 2010, ten new state-of-the-art public hospitals and 16 primary health centres have opened in the country, in addition to several specialist facilities. The government has also ensured quality along with the growth in workforce and the number of facilities, which is evident from a number of international safety and quality accreditations achieved in recent years. At the same time, country’s private health sector has also grown significantly, with multiple new hospitals and medical centres.
At the cultural front, Qatar Museums has embarked on a massive programme of public art, created by renowned international artists. As per the plan, 40 new major works of public art will be installed at a number of public places across the country this fall. This will take the number of public art pieces to more than 100 by the time the World Cup gets under way.
Qatar Museums is collaborating with Hamad International Airport, Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and Ashghal to install the new artworks at places such as the airport, parks, shopping malls, educational and sports facilities, metro stations and the stadiums hosting the World Cup matches.
