CHAIRMAN: DR. KHALID BIN THANI AL THANI
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: PROF. KHALID MUBARAK AL-SHAFI

Qatar / General

French envoy reiterates France’s support for World Cup

Published: 18 Nov 2022 - 08:48 am | Last Updated: 18 Nov 2022 - 08:51 am
Peninsula

QNA

Doha: Ambassador of the French Republic to the State of Qatar H E Jean-Baptiste Faivre said that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be a big and influential event in the region and worldwide, highlighting that it is the first of its kind in the Arab region and the Middle-East. 

The ambassador  stressed to Qatar News Agency (QNA) that his country supports its friend the State of Qatar in making this event a success, highlighting the French full commitment to support Qatari organisations in all fields. He added that the two sides had an effective cooperation during the 2006 Asian Games, especially in the security, defence, culture, and social participation fields among others. 

The French Ambassador said he was impressed with the infrastructure built for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and the eight stadiums that will host the event’s matches. He also said he was impressed with the huge leap in the state’s transportation sector, particularly Doha Metro and Lusail Tram that were inaugurated recently. He said they represent a wonderful display of French-Qatari cooperation for hosting the World Cup. He cited Accor’s operating 25,000 hotel rooms to welcome guests during the competition as another example. 

He wished the Qatari team well during the competition, and expressed his hope that champions France can defend the title. The Ambassador said that he expects French fans and visitors to enjoy a wonderful stay in Qatar and this global event and the wide variety of its accompanying events. He noted that two French cyclists came to Qatar to follow the World Cup by bicycle, after covering a distance of 8000 kilometers in order to enjoy the competition.

He noted that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is a big turning point for the State of Qatar, adding that the authorities implemented many reforms in the field of labour protection, in cooperation with the International Labour Organization which established a regional office in Doha in 2017. He expressed his hope that these reforms will continue.