DOHA: Emir H H Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said yesterday that investigations had proved that Qatar deserves to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022.
He said preparations to hold the coveted world soccer event were progressing in full swing.
Addressing students and faculty members of Georgetown University in Washington, the Emir said he was happy and proud that Qatar had won the bid to host the World Cup.
He said the win was not for Qatar alone but for the entire Arab world and the region.
The Emir was invited by the chancellor to visit the university.
He spoke on issues, including Qatar’s fight against terrorism and spending on education and development as well as Arab Spring.
Answering questions, the Emir said investigations into alleged wrongdoings had proved nothing and shown that Qatar deserves to host the World Cup.
To a question on the Arabic language, he said he supports encouragement to the language and added that it must be taught and learnt not only in the region but also overseas.
The Emir described Qatar’s relations with Saudi Arabia as strong and historic when asked about his recent visit to the kingdom. He also talked about Qatar’s efforts to diversify the national economy and said that it would benefit citizens and the coming generations, QNA reports.
On Wednesday, FIFA Secretary-General Jerome Valcke said he had visited stadiums, including Al Wakra Stadium and workers’ housing, and added that progress has been made in the standards of workers’ rights in all World Cup-related projects.
“I have to say that if the standard for all construction sites in Qatar reaches the level of standard we have for all specific World Cup construction sites, then a big step will be contributed to working conditions and that will be part, again, of the power of the World Cup,” Valcke said.
He recalled that FIFA President Sepp Blatter, during his July 2014 meeting with the Emir, had deliberated on ongoing labour rights reforms. The football’s governing body expects a solution to the problem in the near future but cautioned changes cannot happen overnight, he said.
“We are not expecting a decision tomorrow morning but this problem will be solved before 2022 World Cup. We want to ensure that this is taken on the top of the agenda and will be solved before the World Cup when all attention will be on Qatar.”
Valcke said the 2022 World Cup will be a compact event as it will save effort of transferring participant teams between cities.
The Peninsula
