DOHA: ‘We Speak Football,’ the biggest football exhibition, will officially open to the public on July 3 in Brazil.
For three months visitors will have the chance to discover the global culture and art of football through objects, images, videos and interactive installations and relive the emotion, diversity and passion of the game.
The project is the result of a partnership between 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, and National Football Museum, in Manchester, England. It will travel to a new country every year until it reaches Doha for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
On its way, it will be visiting Canada (2015), France (2016), Germany (2017), Russia (2018), Japan (2019), England (2020) and South Korea (2021).
This year the exhibition is part of Qatar Museums Authority’s “Qatar Brazil 2014 Year of Culture.” “Football is the world’s most popular sport; it is part of our lives and reflects the cultural diversity of each country. We are proud to start this exhibition in Brazil,” said Dr Christian Wacker, Director of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sport Museum.
In the expo, the game is presented as a worldwide phenomenon, which incorporates the plurality of the global community.
“Football unites billions of people across the globe: All ages, nationalities and cultures. Football is more than just a sport. It is an important part of global culture, bringing the world together,” explains Kevin Moore, Director of National Football Museum.
“People who don’t share a common spoken language can share the unspoken language of football.”
Just like a football match, the exhibition is organised in two parts. In the first half, the audience will encounter five spaces: ‘History’, ‘Stars’, ‘FIFA World Cup’, ‘Fans’ and ‘Art of Football’.
In the second half, they will have the chance to put on boots and test their skills in various games. As they exit the hall, they can buy souvenirs, specifically designed for the exhibition. There will also be other activities, including talks on sociocultural aspects of the game and events engaging the local community.
In Brazil, the exhibition takes place in João Pessoa in one of the city’s most impressive architectural monuments – the Estação Cabo Branco – Ciência, Cultura e Artes complex, designed by Oscar Niemeyer.
“We are proud to bring such a fantastic experience to Brazil,” said the Mayor of João Pessoa, Luciano Cartaxo.
“João Pessoa is located perfectly between Rio Grande do Norte, Pernambuco, Bahia and Ceará, all states that will host World Cup games.” The Peninsula
