(MENAFN- The Peninsula) The 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar will be a stimulant for the global development of football, Hassan Al Thawadi, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), said yesterday.
Speaking on the opening day of the two-day Soccerex Asian Forum 2016 yesterday Al Thawadi said the first ever World Cup in the Middle East will fast track the growth of emerging football markets, a vision of late Duncan Revie, founder of Soccerex.
'Duncan had the foresight and vision in the 1990s to form Soccerex, an event which has been at the forefront during the process of the globalisation of football which started during that decade in England, Al Thawadi said.
'Now we are living in an age of many football markets. The hosting of the World Cup in Qatar in 2022 will accelerate the global development of football.
Al Thawadi said SC had been involved with past editions Soccerex and wished that delegates attending the 2016 Asian forum in Qatar will derive maximum benefits from the sport networking event.
After his opening address, the SC Secretary-General presented the inaugural Duncan Revie Award to Richard Tims, Chairman of Sheffield FC.
A host of panel discussions took place on the opening day with SC Assistant Secretary General for Tournament Affairs, Nasser Al Khater, kicking off the first panel session.
Khater in his address to delegates said Qatar is on its ways towards bringing about social, economic and environmental change in line with the country's 2030 National Vision.
'The World Cup is a catalyst to accelerate the emergence of Qatar as a knowledge-based economy by 2030 and our human, social, environmental and technological initiatives built around the hosting of the World Cup have proven to be very successful in the country and the region, Al Khater said.
'The idea was to look at a multi-pronged approach towards sustainable growth and projects such as Generation Amazing and Challenge 22 have been successful endeavours, he added.
Al Khater reiterated Qatar's commitment towards building sustainable stadiums for 2022.
'We are not merely building stadiums but scripting well-researched legacy plans into the designs of every single stadium and precinct, he said.
'There have been instances of some World Cup stadiums not having been used following the event. However, Qatar will be different. We have consulted with local communities and have built precincts with amenities such as schools.
'We are also building modular seating in stadiums which can be dismantled after the tournament so that we need not be saddled with white elephants. Some stadiums will be fully dismantled and re-used after the tournament."
Al Khater said sustainability is also the guiding principle in the construction of the stadiums for 2022.
'We are not merely building stadiums but scripting well-researched legacy plans into the designs of every single stadium and precinct, said Al Khater.
Al Khater said the eight proposed host venues for 2022 are progressing at a right pace.
'We are ahead of schedule in all eight venues, he said.
Asked as to whether eight will be the ideal number for the World Cup Al Khater said the SC would be guided by the views of FIFA about the final stadium count for the event.
Turning his attention to criticsof the World Cup Al Khater said: 'Unfortunately, we have been under malicious and unwarranted attack from some sections."
"I believe we have always responded to criticism that is constructive. I appeal to all to come to Qatar and see the situation for yourself and then come forward with constructive criticism rather than resorting to the easier option of criticising with little or no basis.
The SC official said national team will do well on home turf in the quadrennial event, six years from now.
'I am confident that the national team will reach far in 2022 and that the tournament will do to Qatar football what it did to the Japanese national team after 2002, he said.
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