Qatar has held a number of mega sports events in a secure environment amid the ongoing pandemic. The latest of these top-level tournaments, FIFA Club World Cup, concluded last week.
Stringent and well-thought out health safety measures put in place by the health and sport authorities made the Amir Cup Final 2020, AFC Champions League 2020 finals, as well as the FIFA Club World Cup 2020 a huge success, despite the challenges posed by the pandemic.
Apart from other preventive measures, the authorities tested tens of thousands of fans, staff and players who attended these matches. During the Club World Cup alone, the Primary Health Care Corporation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Public Health and the Hamad Medical Corporation, screened around 25,500 spectators for COVID-19 infection.
Comprehensive medical services were provided to the participants of the Club World Cup at their accommodations, training venues, and stadiums, in addition to field services and ambulance services around the clock. Qatar’s success in controlling the pandemic and the expanded medical bubble system applied to the FIFA Club World Cup was one of the main reasons for FIFA’s green light for the event.
The medical bubble system was also successfully applied to the Judo World Masters, the Katara International Arabian Horse Festival and others sport and non-sport events that require an approval by the Ministry of Public Health in light of the pandemic.
The State of Qatar is one of the first countries in the world to implement the medical bubble system according to the expanded model that includes large numbers of teams and athletes during a number of sporting events.
The medical bubble system includes all participants of a tournament, including players, coaches, officials, organisers and service workers, whether in stadiums or hotels. Everyone involved in the tournament is screened for the infection and then enters the bubble. During these event, media are not allowed to approach the players as a precaution. The spectators who undergo COVID-19 tests can attend a match within three days of their negative tests. After that, they would need a new test.
Adviser to the Minister of Public Health for Sports Affairs Dr. Abdul Wahab Al Musleh said the country’s success in organising many sporting events in a safe and secure environment amid the pandemic confirms the ability of the State of Qatar and its institutions to host the largest future sporting events such as the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, despite all the difficulties and challenges, especially in light of the current coronavirus pandemic.
