The State of Qatar and the World Health Organisation (WHO) yesterday launched a new collaborative project with the aim to make the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 a model for future mega sport events to promote health and safety.
In a hybrid event held at WHO’s headquarters in Geneva, Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari and WHO Director-General H E Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus signed the agreement for the project.
In the three-year joint project, ‘Healthy 2022 World Cup - Creating Legacy for Sport and Health,’ WHO and Qatar will work closely with FIFA, and host activities to promote healthy living, health security, physical and mental well-being centred around 2022 FIFA World Cup.
On the occasion, football legend Didier Drogba was announced as WHO’s Goodwill Ambassador for Sport and Health. He will support WHO to promote benefits of physical activity and other healthy lifestyles, and highlight the value of sports, particularly for youth.
Secretary General of the Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, Hassan Al Thawadi; FIFA President, Gianni Infantino; and WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, Dr Ahmed Al Mandhari were also present at the event held to mark launch of the joint collaboration.
Speaking on the occasion, the WHO chief said the new project will cement ongoing collaboration between Qatar and WHO in international arena.
“This high level collaboration shared between WHO, FIFA and Qatar has the objective to create a healthy and safe World Cup in Qatar next year. Also to create a legacy how major sporting events can be used to promote health and wellbeing,” said Dr. Tedros.
“WHO is committed to working with Qatar and FIFA to leverage the global power of football to help people lead the healthiest and safest lives possible.”
Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Al Kuwari emphasised that the partnership will help as a catalyst to promote good health and encourage active lifestyle. “Our goal is not just to hold a successful sporting event but also to hold the healthiest sporting event possible. It is for this reason we have teamed up with WHO,” she said.
“We look forward to working closely with WHO, FIFA and other partners on this new project to deliver a fantastic, healthy World Cup and leave a legacy that supports the staging of healthy, sustainable and safe mega sporting events in the future.”
‘Healthy 2022 World Cup - Creating Legacy for Sport and Health,’ will focus in depth on supporting people to practice healthy lifestyles through physical activity, healthy diets, tobacco cessation and control; promoting health security, with a focus on ensuring mass gatherings and events are safe; and advocacy and awareness-raising for health.
“Since being awarded the rights to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we have carefully considered the importance of leaving sustainable and transformative social legacies that improve lives in Qatar, within our region, and around the world. With the experience of the pandemic, the importance of utilising this platform to build awareness and improve public health has significantly increased,” said Hassan Al Thawadi.
He added: “This partnership with WHO will serve to elevate and enhance our existing efforts and contribute to ensuring that our region’s first FIFA World Cup maximises its potential for social impact and serves as a benchmark for future events of a similar nature.”
FIFA President Infantino praised the new partnership between Qatar and WHO, and said it built on the successful partnership FIFA and WHO signed in 2019 through a memorandum of understanding.
“In these past two years, FIFA and WHO have doubled our efforts to promote the importance of physical and mental health to millions of people everywhere, especially in light of the global challenges from COVID-19. We are committed to working with the world of football, from elite players to grassroots teams, to advance the message of health for all. WHO’s new project with Qatar aligns perfectly with FIFA’s collaboration with both sides.”