The Peninsula
International media acclaim continued to pour in over Qatar’s unprecedented preparations for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, with a variety of reports reaching a consensus that the upcoming World Cup will be exceptional and highly organized amid a great fan desire to explore Qatar and the Middle East region and their peoples. Many economic and media reports hailed Qatar’s organizational level to produce a successful and exceptional tournament amid western media-propelled distortion campaigns. The reports highlighted Qatar’s technical and organizational preparations for the championship including the construction of top-notch stadiums in addition to other logistical preparations that help absorb large numbers of fans from all over the world.
Radio France Internationale (RFI) correspondent Nicholas Falez said in a report that the World Cup-related festive atmosphere is dominating Doha with giant photos of football superstars mounted on residential towers, fan areas and the Corniche Road which is now closed off to traffic.
Qatar, over 12-year-old preparations, have constructed infrastructure for the World Cup including the highly developed Doha Metro and other public transportation, the report said, highlighting that Qatar seeks to use this infrastructure as a legacy for future generations.
Another report by CNBC Arabiya highlighted the inauguration of MSC World Europa as the hugest 5-star floating hotel cruise at the Old Doha Port to fans of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. The report aired as part of Eye on Qatar program said that the cruise will offer a unique accommodation experience for 6,700 World Cup fans distributed in 2,600 cabins, 7 swimming pools, 13 water whirlpools and a luxurious yacht club. The cruise is one of three ships owned by United Shipping Agency is a subsidiary of Qatari Investors Group Marine Services (QIG Marine Services) will offer a number of World Cup-associated events, activities and night shows for a full capacity of 13,000 passengers. Speaking to CNBC Arabic, Executive Director of Housing Department in the Organizing Committee for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Omar Al Jaber, said that one of the main goals of integrating cruise ship hotels is to give World Cup fans multiple housing options that meet their desires alongside hotels, fan villages and real estate. Al Jaber added that the added advantage of the cruise ship is that it maintains that there is no post-World Cup real estate surplus, in a bid to protect the real estate market, adding that it provides a sustainable solution to host fans during the tournament. Run by LNG, it helps protect the environment during its stay in Qatar, he said, highlighting its geographic proximity to the Islamic Museum, Qatar National Museum, Souq Waqif, Msheireb, the main metro station, the Corniche, and Stadium 974.
Jordanian columnist, Muhammad Al Budoor, stressed, in an article carried by Jordan-based Madar Al Sa’a (Round the Clock) agency that Qatar, carrying the world on its palms, makes history, introduces to the world the message of civilized, contemporary and competitive Arab nation.
The article, entitled “We All Qataris”, the Jordanian writer says that Western-media-propelled baseless distortion campaign targeted Qatar since it won the FIFA World Cup 2022 bid. However, the on-the-ground situation proved Doha’s worthiness to organize such an international mega event.
Budoor refuted the campaign that claimed Qatar’s inability to host the Word Cup and its labor rights violations as baseless and built upon ethnic and ideological views.