In recent years, the State of Qatar has solidified its presence on the global sports scene through the successful organization of major events and the development of comprehensive infrastructure. Qatar continues to fulfill its ambitions in international sports, relying on an effective sports strategy that includes hosting a variety of tournaments and events.
In this context, former Iraqi player Zuhair Hussein expressed his thanks to Qatar, its government, its people, and everyone involved in this wonderful organization. Qatar is the only country that has hosted three editions of the AFC Asian Cup as well as held the FIFA World Cup, the largest global sporting event, which it executed flawlessly. He congratulated Qatar on its achievement, emphasizing that hosting sports tournaments is an investment for the country, boosting its economy.
Despite its small size, Qatar has succeeded in hosting the world's biggest tournaments, Hussein added in an interview on Iraq's Al Mawsleya TV. Hussein further stated that Qatar has presented itself to the world as a great nation not by its size but through its actions, by hosting such international tournaments. In a short period, Qatar was able to host the AFC Asian Cup after China's apology, proving its status as the global sports capital.
For his part, Iraqi football coach Rayan Abdul Ghani praised the opening ceremony of the Asia Cup Qatar 2023 held at the Lusail Stadium, which hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup final between Argentina and France. He commended the well-organized event with concise and impactful segments.
Abdul Ghani noted that Qatar had started preparing early for hosting the World Cup by providing facilities, stadiums, and sports infrastructure, and establishing a professional league. This laid a solid foundation for the success of such tournaments. The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 witnessed significant achievements, introducing innovations such as the use of VAR technology and the participation of female referees, setting precedents not seen in previous World Cup tournaments, he added.
Similarly, the Host of the Asian Cup program, Jassim Al Othman, said that Qataris have proven their organizational skills to the world, showcasing their competence in hosting tournaments despite the country's small size. The opening ceremony of the Asia Cup was simple yet very beautiful.
Correspondent for the French newspaper Le Parisien in Doha Stephane Bianchi interviewed Palestinian national team player Mahmoud Wadi, who is participating in the Asia Cup to discuss the challenging mental state of the players who receive news from Gaza concerning their families, as well as the international community's stance towards their homeland's suffering.
Mahmoud Wadi said that he can't do anything except praying for himself and his family and work to make people proud. We must try to do something for them and ourselves because we are part of them.
He concluded his statement with a message of hope, affirming that Palestinians are people who love life. We need to give the people in Gaza a chance to live theirs. There is talent in the region, but there are many obstacles imposed by the Israeli occupation and the blockade that prevent people from expressing their potential. Every day, we prove to the world that despite the occupation, we succeed in achieving our goals. We only ask for the opportunity to succeed. (QNA)
