After waiting and preparing for 12 years, the first World Cup tournament in the Arab region began in Qatar, with a dazzling ceremony organized at Al-Bayt Stadium, while a state of disappointment gripped the fans of the Qatari national team after the defeat by Ecuador in the opening match, with two goals free, within The first round of the first group.
A few hours before the start of the biggest football event in the world, the first in an Arab and Muslim country, the atmosphere escalated in the center of Doha as fans flocked from the four corners of the globe.
Welcome from Arabia
The Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, said that Qatar made great efforts with many to organize this event to be one of the most successful tournaments, and invested in the good of all humanity, describing the World Cup as a great football festival for civilizational communication.
After continuous effort and hard work that lasted 12 years, today we are proudly witnessing the launch of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. We welcome our guests from all over the world, wishing all the participating teams the best of luck and the fans to spend enjoyable times.
# Qatar 2022 pic.twitter.com/qmkcYqZhIc
- Tamim bin Hamad (@TamimBinHamad) November 20, 2022
And when giving the go-ahead for the opening of the World Cup, the Emir of Qatar said in a speech at Al-Bayt Stadium, "From the Arab countries, I welcome everyone to the 2022 World Cup. We have worked with many to make it one of the most successful tournaments. We have made efforts and invested in the good of all humanity, and finally We have reached opening day, the day you have been waiting for so eagerly."
Sheikh Tamim continued, "Starting this evening and for 28 days, we will follow with us the whole world - God willing - the great football festival in this open space for human and civilized communication. People of different races, nationalities, beliefs and orientations will gather here in Qatar and around screens on all continents, to participate." In the same moments of excitement.
He concluded his speech by saying, "How beautiful it is for people to put aside what separates them in order to celebrate their diversity and what unites them at the same time. I wish all participating teams a wonderful football performance and high sportsmanship, and all of you spend a time filled with joy, suspense and joy, and may it be days inspiring goodness and hope, welcome to the world." in everyone's dormitory."
The opening ceremony was attended by a number of leaders and state leaders, including Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, Algerian President Abdel Majid Tebboune, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, and Jordan's King Abdullah II.
Moments of the reception of the Emir of the State # Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, to the leaders and presidents participating in the opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup # Al Jazeera_Mondial 22 pic.twitter.com/ZaOelMngji
- Al Jazeera Channel (@AJArabic) November 20, 2022
For his part, FIFA President Gianni Infantino delivered a speech in more than one language - including Arabic - during which he welcomed the attendees, wishing success to all the participating teams.
Arab tributes
The Vice President of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, praised the opening of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, describing it as "historic moments".
Arab leaders and officials congratulated the State of Qatar and its Emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, on the occasion of the opening of the 2022 World Cup, amid praise and hospitality for the opening activities, describing it as an "Arab achievement."
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said, in a tweet via his personal account on Twitter, "Today, I witnessed the opening ceremony of the World Cup, historical moments that our region is experiencing with the most important event in the world. Doha will be the capital of world sports for a month from today, may God protect it, and according to its people and leadership for every success." And pay off."
https://twitter.com/HHShkMohd/status/1594411289949966339
King Abdullah II of Jordan said, on his Twitter account, "I congratulate my brother, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the brotherly Qatari people on the beautiful opening activities of the World Cup. We are proud of this Arab achievement in hosting the World Cup, and we trust the ability of the Qatari brothers to make this tournament a success and organize it brilliantly." ".
https://twitter.com/KingAbdullahII/status/1594387382220083200
In turn, the Algerian president said, "Sister Qatar has the right to be proud of its steadfast success in organizing the 2022 World Cup, and we also have the right to be proud of its high representation of our Arab brothers and winning the bet... Congratulations to my brother, His Highness Emir Tamim, and to all the Qatari people."
https://twitter.com/TebbouneAmadjid/status/1594428394753630213
The head of the Presidential Leadership Council in Yemen, Rashad Al-Alimi, wrote on his Twitter account, "With all pride and appreciation, I congratulate my brother, His Highness Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and the dear people of Qatar on the start of the World Cup finals with this impressive opening ceremony."
The leader of the Sadrist movement in Iraq, Muqtada al-Sadr, said that he hopes that the World Cup in Qatar will be "a cup for the unity of the Arab and Islamic ranks and the spread of peace, especially in Yemen, Syria, Lebanon and the rest of the Arab countries."
Al-Sadr added, "And it will be a clear proof to the world that Arabs and Muslims are capable of managing and organizing the cup and are able to spread peace and unity in the Arab, Islamic and international ranks, and that is the greatest victory and success against the West."
The Speaker of the Iraqi Parliament, Muhammad al-Halbousi, blessed Qatar and the Arab world for the "dazzling and wonderful achievement and organization of the World Cup," considering it "a place of pride for every Arab."
In turn, the Yemeni ambassador to the State of Qatar, Rageh Badi, described Qatar's organization of the World Cup as a "great event", and wrote on his Twitter account, "A defining moment in the history of Qatar and the Arabs. I congratulate our brothers in the State of Qatar on this organization and the amazing opening of the World Cup. Enjoyable days for all fans football across the globe.
7 paintings at the opening ceremony
The ceremony, which was held at Al-Bayt Stadium in Al-Khor, north of Qatar, received the attention of the international media, due to the unprecedented organization and dazzling witnessed in the history of the openings of the most prominent tournament in the world.
"The Appeal" panel
The first painting, "A Crossing Gate", represented the official opening of the ceremony. It took viewers on a tour of the topics that will be presented during the opening through cinematic videos that expressed several main symbols, the first of which is the golden mortar and pestle, women and their status in Arab society as the pillar of the house, and the "greedy" shark. And the home stadium, and hosting travelers coming from different parts of the world in response to the invitation.
The reason for opening the ceremony with a mortar is because the Arabs were known to pound coffee and spices when preparing them to receive guests, in addition to being an ancient cultural symbol, as it is one of the oldest kitchen tools discovered globally, and it has another symbolic meaning that represents "fertility, abundance and creativity."
As for the "gluttonous" shark, it indicates several symbolic meanings, the first of which is that it represents a guide and a compass for navigators during their travels, and it also expresses the importance of looking inward and not judging the appearance. Optimism and Prosperity", in addition to considering it as representing the Qatari marine environment.
Get to know each other
This painting is based on 3 paragraphs, the first is "I wish I had a tent", which shows the ending point of the mortar sound with the exit of 3 Qatari women, followed by a Qatari song with the voice of Qatari singer Dana.
Then the "Dialogue" paragraph, which dealt with the problem of misconceptions about double standards and hasty judgments, in an invitation to dialogue, acquaintance and learning from the other despite the difference.
This paragraph was expressed by the actor Morgan Freeman and the young Qatari Ghanem Al-Muftah, who represents the new generation.
During this dialogue, the young Ghanem Al-Muftah recited the noble verse, "O people, we created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honorable of you in the sight of God is the most pious of you."
As for the final paragraph, it began with the song "Hala" to welcome the different peoples, which expressed equality among all, and nostalgia for the memory of the Gulf region associated with some sporting events. It also constituted an invitation to cooperate, express love, and strive for goodness.
"Rhythm of Nations" painting
This painting was based on celebrating football fans from all over the world, as it considered them the true heroes of this tournament, so it collected the most famous cheers of encouragement for the 32 participating teams, amid a Qatari parade - in a popular festive tradition - aimed at conveying the idea of the common relationship between the peoples of the world despite the difference in cultures and languages.
Painting "Spherical Nostalgia"
This painting collected previous official talismans in honor of the previous host countries of the World Cup, with a musical mix that expresses the legacy of all of them in a mixed assortment of songs from previous tournaments expressing its role in inspiring the world for the current tournament and planting faith in achieving the dream.
Laeeb, Qatar's mascot for the FIFA Cup this year, was the hero of this painting, who has the ability to move between times, which passes through the memories of the previous tournament, defying the dimensions of time and space.
painting "Dreamers"
The Dreamers are the latest official soundtrack for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar album, along with the previous songs “Welcome”, “Come on, Come on” and “Qandil Al-Sama” performed by Qatari artist Fahd Al-Kubaisi and member of the Korean BTS band Jung Kook.
This song revived the aspirations of the State of Qatar, which dreamed of achieving the dream of the World Cup 12 years ago, and was able to turn the dream into reality. This painting was a message to the world that Qatar is ready as promised, as it expressed the need to accept the other as it is, in an invitation to coexistence and dialogue.
Painting "Roots of a Dream"
This painting displayed an archival historical film shown for the first time, in which the father Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, appears playing football with a group of his friends who contribute to building the country, in a historical narrative way that displays the World Cup dream in the country since its inception, which ended with hosting one of the biggest events Globalism.
"Here and Now" painting
The last opening stations began with a speech by the Emir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, and ended with the appearance of the official logo of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 at a height of 15 meters, which constitutes the beginning of “here and now” from this land to the world, with the gathering of the elements of the previous paintings, namely: talismans And actors, performers, and a group of fans from around the world, in a festive atmosphere that ended with a distinctive fireworks show.
Qatar will turn the dream into reality
In the same context, writer Sébastien Boussois said in an opinion article published by the Swiss newspaper Luton, that Westerners should not take advantage of this holy month of football to settle scores with the Arab world.
And he considered that organizing the FIFA World Cup for the first time in an Arab country is a long-awaited moment, noting that it is a historic moment above all.
In turn, an article in the French newspaper Le Figaro indicated that the State of Qatar will turn the dream into reality, adding that this global gathering will show the strength of a geographically small country, whose presence has become necessary on the world stage, despite the controversy raised by this session of the FIFA World Cup.
The article asked: Will Doha be able to achieve the required organization in this world championship, especially since surveys indicate that more than a million visitors could arrive during the tournament?
The article refers to the security challenge, and says that Qatar has chosen to cooperate with several countries such as Turkey, Morocco and France to manage the movement of fans and security around stadiums.