New York - Information Office – 8 December
The State of Qatar has confirmed its intention to submit a draft resolution under the item (Sports for Development and Peace) at the current session of the United Nations General Assembly entitled: "The FIFA World Cup Championship 2022 organized in the State of Qatar".
This was contained in the statement of the State of Qatar delivered by HE Ambassador Sheikha Alia Ahmed bin Saif Al Thani, the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations, at the session of the United Nations General Assembly on the item “Sport for Development and Peace: Building a Peaceful and Better World through Sport and the Olympic Ideal" at its seventy-sixth session.
The statement stressed that the State of Qatar was keen that the draft resolution be consistent with the three pillars of the United Nations represented in peace, sustainable development and human rights, as well as with global recognition of the role and contribution of sport, especially football, to promoting development and peace.
In its statement, the State of Qatar stated that the draft contains a paragraph specifically welcoming the initiative "Healthy World Cup in 2022 - Creating a Legacy for Sport and Health," explaining that this paragraph is "a multi-year joint project between the State of Qatar, the World Health Organization and FIFA in order to make the World Cup 2022 championship a beacon for promoting physical and mental health, and a model to ensure holding healthy and safe major sporting events in the future, especially since this tournament will be the first FIFA World Cup to be held during the COVID-19 pandemic.”
The statement expressed Qatar's aspiration to begin informal consultations on the draft resolution during the second half of next January, with the aim of submitting it for adoption in the General Assembly on the International Day of “Sport for Development and Peace”, which falls on the sixth of next April. Qatar has also expressed its aspiration towards the constructive participation of Member States in this process, leading to the adoption of the draft by consensus.
In the statement, the State of Qatar reaffirmed its firm belief in the ability of sport, in all its forms, to contribute to the achievement of the goals of sustainable development. That is in addition to its great interest in sport, with a view to achieving the goals set in the areas of physical and mental health, education and social integration, and to promoting the values of peace and understanding among all peoples.
The statement stressed the desire of the State of Qatar to invest in sport over the past decades as part of its efforts to realize Qatar's Vision 2030 through the construction and development of sports facilities and infrastructure in accordance with international standards.
The statement reiterated Qatar's keenness to invest in the field of sports over the past decades as part of its efforts to achieve Qatar's vision 2030, through the construction and development of sports facilities and infrastructure in accordance with international standards, pointing out that such investment qualified it to host major international sporting events.
The statement expressed Qatar's pleasure of announcing the countdown to hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022, which will be held for the first time in the Middle East and the Arab region.
In this context, the State of Qatar expressed its pride in inaugurating "Al-Bayt" stadium last week, which is the last sports stadium among the eight distinguished stadiums that will host the tournament in less than a year from now.
At the conclusion of its statement, the State of Qatar reiterated its readiness and preparedness to receive sports teams and fans from all over the world from November 21 to December 18, 2022, to enjoy an exceptional and unique atmosphere; expressing its hope that the FIFA World Cup in 2022 will be an example to follow for the creation of a lasting legacy, and to contribute to shaping a better future for the State of Qatar, the region and the world at large.