A dazzling spectacle by 180 artists, live screening of the Mexico vs Germany football match and a concert by Qatari singer Fahd al-Kubaisi marked the official launching of the Qatar Fan Zone at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Al Sadd on Sunday.
Several VIPs, including government officials, foreign diplomats and business leaders attended the event, organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), the Ministry of Culture and Sports and the Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA).
Set to run until the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia final on July 15, the fan zone is giving residents and visitors a taste of the tournament atmosphere four years before Qatar hosts the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“It’s been fantastic to see so many passionate fans enjoying everything the Qatar Fan Zone has to offer,” Nasser al-Khater, the SC’s Assistant Secretary General for Tournament Affairs, said.
“This attraction is giving people the chance to sample a World Cup atmosphere four years before we host the biggest show on earth,” he noted, as he encouraged families to visit the fan zone.
In addition to screening matches from Russia live, the fan zone features entertainment, a designated zone for children and families, and more than 40 food and beverage carts.
Entry is free, giving visitors a chance to sample the excitement of the month-long tournament in an atmosphere that emulates World Cup vibes.
The Qatar Fan Zone is one of three such facilities being organised by the SC during the 2018 FIFA World Cup - the others are at Katara and Hamad International Airport.
“We are delighted that so many people of all ages have enjoyed attending Qatar Fan Zone over the Eid weekend,” Abdulrahman Musallam al-Dosari, adviser to HE the Minister of Culture and Sports, said.
“Working alongside the SC and QTA, we remain committed to enhancing the culture of sports in Qatar, as the country gets ever closer to hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup,” he added.
The fan zone’s opening ceremony also marked the start of this year’s Qatar Summer Festival, which kicked off on the first day of Eid al-Fitr and concludes on August 31.
Organised by QTA, the 11-week festival is a nationwide celebration of the country’s diverse retail and hospitality offerings, complemented by a host of entertainment and sports activities.
“The Qatar Fan Zone is truly an example of the cross-sector collaboration required for delivering impactful tourism products and events,” Rashed al-Qurese, chief marketing and promotion officer at QTA, said.
“The World Cup’s overlap with the annual QSF this year gives us the perfect opportunity to build our joint capabilities ahead of Qatar’s hosting of the FIFA World Cup in 2022,” he stressed.
Qatar Fan Zone is open daily from 2pm to midnight until June 28, and from 4pm to midnight between June 30 and July 15.
Operating on match days only, the fan zone is powered by Vodafone Qatar as the official telecommunications partner and supported by the W Doha Hotel & Residences, the official hospitality partner.
Some 180 artists performed live at the opening of the Qatar Fan Zone at the Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena in Al Sadd. PICTURE: Shemeer Rasheed.
