Qatar Prepares for COVID-19 Challenges Ahead of FIFA World Cup
Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, Qatar World Cup reforms are expanding to ensure a successful event next year. While excitement for the 2022 FIFA World Cup has been surging, Qatar is witnessing developments that go deeper than what is visible on the surface level.
From the fast-enhancing infrastructure and law reforms, the handling of COVID-19 pandemic has lately made the Peninsula nation an ultimate example for its oppressive Arab neighbors. Over a year, Qatar didn’t just efficiently handle the crisis, but also took initiatives that saved many from the adversities.
The Gulf nation is now facing a second COVID wave, which prompted the authorities to impose a nationwide lock-down. Despite that, the remarkable route of Qatar World Cup reforms has hardly seen any obstruction. With the availability of vaccines, the country has been accelerating its coronavirus vaccination drive.
On April 17, 2021, the Qatar authorities expressed that they are hopeful to host a virus-free 2022 FIFA World Cup. Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that they are working to seek the vaccine jabs for all those who will attend the event. “Right now there are programs under development to provide vaccination to all the attendees of the World Cup,” he said.
Striving to host a COVID-free tournament, the authorities have made vaccination a part of the Qatar World Cup reforms. There are negotiations and talks going on with the COVID-19 vaccine providers to ensure that “everyone attending the World Cup is vaccinated”. Besides, there is also a hope that the pandemic will “start to go down and disappear” by that time.
For Qatar, the pandemic lays a more challenging situation, as FIFA 2022 is expected to be a landmark event for its progress. Over the year, the country has taken some impressive measures. In April 2020, a new program of nearly 3 billion Qatari riyals ($820 million) was announced, under which the employees of privately owned companies received their salaries even during the lockdown. It was seen as one of the most powerful Qatar World Cup reforms, which brought global recognition and praise.
Apart from looking after the national interests, the Arab nation also worked for the interest of other countries. By October 2020, since the beginning of the pandemic, Qatar facilitated more than 80 countries with urgent medical assistance. Besides, it also pledged $10 million to the World Health Organization (WHO).
While the Gulf country is rapidly advancing towards 2022 FIFA, it would be interesting to follow how the Qatar World Cup reforms will defy the global outbreak to host another sports event without any cancellation or delay.