(MENAFN- Gulf Times) More than 18,000 people from various communities in the country have visited the Qatar Fan Zone, a free-to-attend attraction at Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiyah Arena since it opened on June 14.
The fan zone, organised by the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, Ministry of Culture and Sports and Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), screens live the matches at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
The venue gives football fans in the country a chance to watch and cheer for their favourite teams competing in the month-long tournament.
Organisers said thousands more fans are expected to attend this weekend's matches, starting with today's games: Denmark vs Australia (kick-off 3pm), France vs Peru (6pm) and Argentina vs Croatia (9pm).
Tomorrow, it's Brazil vs Costa Rica (3pm), Nigeria vs Iceland (6pm) and Serbia vs Switzerland (9pm), while on Saturday, Tunisia face Belgium (3pm), Mexico take on South Korea (6pm) and Germany go up against Sweden (9pm).
In addition to screening live matches from the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia, the fan zone features entertainment, a designated zone for children and families, and more than 40 food and beverage carts.
Visiting fans have praised the family-friendly atmosphere and abundance of activities for people of all ages.
'It's great to be able to bring my children to a place that brings together Egyptians and other Arabs to cheer for our national team. The atmosphere, the hospitality and the fun activities for children all make this a complete experience for the whole family, Egyptian fan Ramy Ghanem said.
Jihan, a Tunisian mother of two, added: 'I brought my two daughters and even though they are not football fans they have been caught up in the excitement and enjoying the fun activities that cater to children. The whole event is fantastic and we're grateful to the organisers.
The fan zone has been giving passionate fans the chance to sample a World Cup atmosphere four years before Qatar hosts the biggest show on earth while celebrating its rich culture of sports.
While the Qatar Fan Zone and all its entertainment offerings including live music, family-friendly activities and football freestyler shows are available for free, visitors have the option to upgrade their experience by booking a hospitality suite through qtickets.com.
The suites are located on the second floor of the arena and offer private service courtesy of The W Doha Hotel, an exceptional view, plush furniture, board games and PlayStation.
Qatar Fan Zone is also part of this year's Qatar Summer Festival, which kicked off on the first day of Eid al-Fitr.
Organised by QTA, the 11-week festival is a nationwide celebration of the country's diverse retail and hospitality offerings, complemented by a host of entertainment and sports activities.
Last updated: June 21 2018 12:40 AM
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