(MENAFN- The Peninsula) QNA
Bangkok: FIFA president Gianni Infantino has confirmed that the FIFA World Cup 2022, which will be held in Qatar after five years, will be a very important event for the Asian continent.
This came on the sidelines of the opening ceremony of the mini-stadium project of the Thai Football Association, which was inaugurated in the Thai capital Bangkok, in the presence of the President of the Asian Football Association Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa and members of the Executive Office of the Asian Confederation.
The stadiums were created with funding from the AFC President's Initiatives Program and the launch of the new stadiums was held at the Center of Excellence of the Thai Federation at Bangkok Thonburi University.
"The Asian continent is very important for the FIFA, especially after the continent has presented impressive examples both at the organizational level and at the results level," said Infantino.
The president of the International Football Federation (FIFA) said Qatar's 2022 World Cup is the most important event for the Asian continent after the series of events hosted by the continent.
"The provision of appropriate facilities is essential for the development of football," The FIFA President said. "We are confident that these stadiums will have a significant impact on the development of football in Thailand, these stadiums will help future generations of players, today, understand the future of this game" he added.
Earlier yesterday the Personal Representative of the Emir H H Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani met the President of the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) Gianni Infantino, and the President of the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Aleksander Ceferin, on the sidelines of the draw ceremony for the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia which was held at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow today.
During the two meetings, they reviewed a number of issues of mutual interest, especially the preparations of the State of Qatar to host the 2022 World Cup.
The meetings were attended by the President of the Qatar Olympic Committee H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al-Thani and a number of senior officials.
Opportunity for the region
¨Sport is a platform where the principle of peaceful coexistence is brought forward. This World Cup in Qatar represents an opportunity for the region and especially for the young generations who are our future, the Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Hassan Al Thawadi had said recently, when he delivered a keynote speech at Casa Arabe in Madrid.
¨In Qatar we believe in mutual respect and the principle of peaceful coexistence. We are a mosaic of people of different nationalities, beliefs and cultures, living together and in harmony. In the organization which I have the privilege to lead, fifty-four nationalities are working towards a common vision.¨
Thawadi also highlighted the power of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar to leave a lasting human and economic legacy. ¨Our region and their youngsters have a lot to offer, but they fight on a daily basis against stereotypes. We want to make sure that this World Cup leaves a lasting economic and social legacy.
'We have a dream. We know it is big, difficult and represents a big challenge, but we won't stop when we are faced with challenges.
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