The ceremony was hosted by Qatar’s ambassador to Russia Fahad bin Mohamed al-Attiyah and was attended by senior officials from the partners of the Cultural Year such as Qatar Museums, Qatar Tourism Authority, and Qatar Airways.
The ceremony was also attended by prominent figures from the Russian cultural sector.
Commenting on the launch of the initiative, SC Secretary-General Hassan Abdullah al-Thawadi said that the Qatar-Russia 2018 Cultural Year is a unique opportunity for the people of the two countries to reach a better understanding of each country’s nature and appreciation of their cultures, including the different customs and traditions of the two nations, which is something that is at the heart of the World Cup.
Al-Thawadi added that with Russia hosting the 2018 World Cup and Qatar’s readiness to host the 2022 edition, the tournament is a meeting place for the people of the two countries and a platform for the gathering of the people of the world.
He stressed that this is what the World Cup is aiming for, pointing out that he is confident that the 2018 and 2022 World Cups will be a special celebration of the culture of the two host countries.
The SC secretary-general stressed that the cultural year Qatar-Russia 2018 is a valuable opportunity to get acquainted with Qatar and its customs and traditions for the first time, expressing his confidence that it will be the starting point for cultural exchange from 2018 until 2022 and beyond.
Al-Attiyah said that the cultural year Qatar-Russia 2018 will witness various exhibitions, events and cultural activities between the two countries aimed at promoting mutual cultural exchange.
The event included an exhibition to introduce visitors to Qatar’s customs, traditions, and culture, as well as an overview of Qatar’s development in various fields.
As part of this exhibition, SC reviewed in its pavilion Qatar’s plans to host a distinctive version of the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and the stadiums being constructed, as well as the various SC heritage programmes which included Challenge 22, Generation Amazing and Josoor Institute.
The Qatar-Russia 2018 Culture Year follows the signing of a co-operation agreement between the two countries on the sidelines of an official visit by HE Minister of Culture and Sports Salah bin Ghanem bin Nasser al-Ali to Russia and meeting his Russian counterpart Vladimir Medinsky. The organisation of the Qatar-Russia 2018 Culture Year is part of the Cultural Years Initiative launched by Qatar Museums in 2012 with the aim of promoting understanding and respect among nations through collaborative initiatives in various fields of arts, culture, heritage, and sports.
An exhibition showcasing Qatar’s heritage during the event.
