People enjoy the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Community Engagement Roadshow at the Villaggio Mall last week.
The last time Asia hosted the FIFA World Cup, in South Korea and Japan in 2002, a right-back known for his brilliant runs ended up on the victory podium with the FIFA World Cup trophy held aloft in his hands.
Now a young right-back called Mohamed Fahad al-Khoza’i, who plays in the youth team of Qatar Stars League side Al Arabi Sports Club, is inspired by the thought of playing on the world’s greatest footballing stage as Brazil captain Cafu once did.
Al-Khoza’i was one of the many families which flocked to the second stop of the Community Engagement Roadshow of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) at the Villaggio Mall last week.
He explained why he made the trip: “I want to be the right-back of Qatar’s team at the 2022 World Cup, and to realise my dream through diligence and training from an early age is a must. The roadshow is a great event during which I can get to know how my nation is preparing to realise its dream and learn from that.”
The five-week roadshow, the first leg of which started on November 11 with a four-day stop at the Lagoona Mall, is designed to create awareness among the diverse local communities in Qatar about the progress of various human, social and infrastructure programmes connected to the ongoing preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
Visitors used the interactive platform to make their voices heard about their hopes and aspirations for the World Cup and the legacy it will leave for Qatar, as well as bringing in their suggestions to make the tournament an inclusive event reflecting the diversity of the country.
The booth visitors also contributed to the interactive consultation designed by the SC to hear the concerns and expectations from the community. Several thousand people left their contact details in order to stay in touch with the SC and hear more about the programmes being delivered in the future and ways in which they can volunteer and participate. Meanwhile, children painted and sketched footballs as part of the Arabic calligraphy activity, and youngsters took an active interest in stadiums, volunteer programmes and youth activities.
Alla, another young visitor to the SC booth, said: “The subject of Qatar hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup has become part of our daily lives, and dominates family discussions. The World Cup will change Qatar and the entire Middle East. Until 2022, we are effectively our country’s ambassadors; anywhere we go in the world we answer questions about Qatar hosting the World Cup.”
Qatar University student Jassim particularly admired the idea of recycling the waste of the deconstructed Al Rayyan Stadium: “Although I am following World Cup news, today I discovered new and different aspects about it for the first time,” he said.
The SC seeks to make everyone part of the delivery of the stadiums and other infrastructure as well as the sustainable legacy being created along the way. The next instalments of the five-week roadshow are scheduled for three more malls – City Centre (25-28 November), Al Khor (2-5 December) and Landmark (9-12 December) – and the SC intends to continue reaching out to the public through similar events all the way to 2022.
With an eye on the future, the SC has selected 35 young Qatari residents to form a Youth Panel and provide a youthful insight on the future plans. Many young Qataris inquired about this programme, particularly given that recruitment for its second term will start in the next few weeks.
The Volunteer Programme gives youngsters a chance to become members of volunteer teams that play a key role in welcoming visitors and introducing the world to Qatar’s unique Arab traditions, customs and hospitality. The roadshow was a perfect example of the kind of volunteer opportunities that will exist through the programme in the lead up to 2022. It is staffed by talented and enthusiastic volunteers sharing their knowledge and excitement with the public.
Many people have also registered with the Culture and Arts programme, which commences a series of workshops through December, pairing talented professional artists with talented amateurs to build national pride and knowledge about the extensive ways to benefit from the tournament and develop their own skills and reaching their full potential along the way. (SC.qa)
