50 days to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: Qatar Foundation employees recall day Qatar won the bid
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is scheduled to start in 50 days, and staff members of the Qatar Foundation (QF) remember the day Qatar won the bid to host the enormous event.
In December 2010, thousands of people watched television in anticipation of Qatar being selected to host the FIFA World Cup.
Then, Qatar’s name was taken out of the sealed envelope by Sepp Blatter, the former president of FIFA. A new age had started. For the first time ever, the Middle East was hosting the world’s largest football tournament.
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The journey that began on December 2, 2010, is reaching its final stage. The country is prepared to host an extraordinary event that people all around the world are talking about.
“I am not a football fan,” said Fathea Al Jaber, who is the Head of Accounts in the Finance Department at QF. “I was watching TV with my family without really paying any attention to it, and certainly not thinking we’d win. But when they announced Qatar’s name, I jumped out of my seat and hugged my mom, who was crying happy tears. She couldn’t believe that Qatar would host the World Cup.”
Re-living that day 12 years ago, Al Jaber said she had so many questions. “I am 24 years old now, so how old will I be in 12 years? Do we have enough stadiums? Do we have the ability to host so many football fans in our country?”
She says that everything still feels surreal. Time has flown so quickly that we are already in 2022, and everyone is counting down the days until the referee’s first whistle blows and kicks off the tournament.
Khalifa Al Emadi, an Employee Relations Officer at QF
Khalifa Al Emadi, an Employee Relations Officer at QF, who was with his friends at his majlis watching the announcement on TV, reminisced how the atmosphere turned from complete silence to ecstatic shouts.
“We were so stressed. My friends were discussing the fact that we were bidding against big countries who have a history of hosting mega sporting events, such as the US, Japan, South Korea, and Australia. Some said there was no way we could win, while others said that nothing was impossible.
“The moment Blatter pulled out the card with Qatar’s name printed on it was magical. We couldn’t control ourselves; we were shouting and throwing our ghutra away. Words cannot describe the happiness we felt that day.”
Al Emadi says that in the years following the bid, many rumours were circulated about Qatar’s inability to host the FIFA World Cup and misinformation was spread. “This made us eager to prove everyone wrong and surprise the world with Qatar’s ability to host an international mega event.”
Wael Elsaid, the Research Knowledge Manager at QF’s Qatar National Research Fund
Wael Elsaid, the Research Knowledge Manager at QF’s Qatar National Research Fund, was at a café with his friends on the day of the announcement.
“It had been only a few months since I had arrived in Qatar from Egypt. I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to be in a country that would host such a huge event. Attending and being part of the FIFA World Cup was a dream for me.”
Excitedly, Elsaid added: “I started thinking about how I could be a part of the preparations. That’s when I planned on becoming a volunteer. This opportunity comes once in a lifetime.
“It’s great that Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup during the winter. Qatar is a desirable country, especially during that time of year. Everyone in the world will now be able to enjoy its beauty.
“If Qatar’s small size causes some people to underestimate it, they must also take into account all of its remarkable accomplishments. I have witnessed many changes in the last 12 years, including the building of stadiums, the growth of the infrastructure, and the rapid development. All of these modifications have been outstanding. I can say that we are all looking forward to and ready for this significant event.
