Executive Director at Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Sheikha Shaikha Al-Thani said that reaching the moment when billions of people around the world witnessed the opening ceremony of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 was a dream come true, and a wonderful embodiment of the tremendous efforts of the team that worked day and night to present a work worthy of the history of Qatar, and the exceptional event held for the first time in the Arab world.
On Sunday night, Al Bayt Stadium witnessed a mesmerizing opening ceremony for the World Cup, which showcased a number of distinctive acts that reflected local culture and promoted unity, while celebrating our global passion for football.
On the vision of the opening ceremony, Shaikha Al-Thani said, "Our vision was to celebrate different cultures while showcasing Qatari heritage."
Uniting people under the banner of the World Cup and breaking the social barriers by building bridges of cooperation and rapprochement among all people were the goals of hosting the global event, she added.
Shaikha Al-Thani expressed her pride in working with the events management team in the resounding success of organizing the opening ceremony of the global event. "I am extremely proud of the team," added Al-Thani, who has spent a decade working for the SC. "We were able to create something magical that celebrated the entire world while showcasing the depth and beauty of our culture. The ceremony proved to the world that Qatar is capable of organizing mega sporting events while setting new standards for creativity and brilliance."
For her part, SC Director of Ceremonies Jenni-Lee Van Gelder said, "It was a beautiful show put together by beautiful people...celebrating different cultures through football is what makes the World Cup special and with the tournament coming to this part of the world for the first time, we wanted to take the opportunity to deliver something truly special."
"What made this experience so wonderful is the fact we brought the entire world together to deliver a world-class opening ceremony," added Van Gelder, who previously worked on similar ceremonies for the Sydney Olympics and Rugby World Cup.
For Ceremonies Operations Senior Officer Nada Al Marrikhi, one of the most rewarding aspects of working on the project was managing a cast that embodied the spirit of the performance.
"Working day-in, day-out with artists from around the world to celebrate this momentous occasion was such a valuable experience. No matter where people were from, they wholeheartedly believe in the power of football to unite the world and were eager to be part of the ceremony," added Al Marrikhi.
Early indications suggest billions of fans tuned in to watch the opening ceremony, which got the 29-day tournament off to the perfect start. The impressive celebration attracted the attention of the football community and millions of fans and will conclude at Lusail Stadium on Dec. 18, with the presence of more than 80,000 fans.
