UNGA welcomes Qatar’s hosting of World Cup

QNA New york The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday adopted a unanimous resolution welcoming Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022. T...

QNANew yorkThe United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) on Saturday adopted a unanimous resolution welcoming Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022. The resolution lauded the unique dimension of the 2022 World Cup, which is organised by the international football association (FIFA) in Qatar for the first time in the Middle East. The General Assembly adopted its resolution under the title “The 2022 World Cup organized by FIFA in Qatar”.The resolution was submitted by Qatar and sponsored by 106 countries, under the item “Sport for Peace and Development : Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal”.The 193-member body emphasised that sport, in particular football- given its universal popularity, has an important role to play in the promotion of peace and development, respect for human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. The UNGA expressed its support for the launch of “Healthy 2022 World Cup Creating Legacy for Sport and Health”, a multi-year collaboration among the International Federation of Association Football, the World Health Organization (WHO) and Qatar, which aims to make the 2022 World Cup a beacon for the promotion of healthy lives, physical and mental health and psychosocial well-being.The UNGA encouraged the relevant authorities to make every effort to ensure that the 2022 tournament will leave a lasting legacy for peace and development in the region. It also encouraged the relevant authorities to ensure a sustainable legacy for host communities, particularly with regard to financial cost, environmental and social impact, and appropriate use of infrastructure, as well as participation and involvement in sport and physical activity.The assembly encouraged all member states to support sport as a tool to promote peace and development through continued contribution to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and dialogue among civilizations.Introducing the draft, Permanent Representative of Qatar to the United Nations HE Sheikha Alya Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani began her statement with two quotes from the speech of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani during the final draw of the World Cup, which was held in Doha on April 1. HH the Amir said: “I feel proud and happy from now until the moment the world will see that we in Qatar will present an exceptional World Cup in the Arab world, as we had promised.” HH the Amir also underlined: “The impact of such sports events is not confined only to fun, but rather goes beyond that to a lofty and higher stages that lead us to rapprochement and mutual acquaintance between the peoples of the world.” Sheikha Alya affirmed the keenness of Qatar, alongside the countries sponsoring the resolution, to present the draft at a time coinciding with the celebration of the International Day of Sports for Development and Peace. She stressed Qatar’s belief in the important role of sport, especially football, in promoting peace, security, sustainable development and human rights, as the three main pillars of the UN.Sheikha Alya added that the World Cup which is organised by the FIFA in Qatar will be the first major event that brings together and unites the world after the pandemic the world has suffered for more than two years.She underlined that Qatar is fully prepared and ready to present an exceptional tournament at the end of this year, so that it remains a lasting legacy of peace and development in the Middle East and the Arab region.Sheikha Alya underlined that Qatar is looking forward with eagerness and enthusiasm to welcoming its distinguished guests from all over the world to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, stressing: “Qatar will spare no effort to ensure that the peoples of the world are welcomed in a distinguished atmosphere that will remain engraved in the memory as an experience that is impressive and carries all the features of authentic Arab culture and hospitality.”