Qatar is up to the challenge Wednesday, 15 December 2010 00:48

Hosting the 2022 World Cup poses a challenge for Qatar, a gamble for the Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA), and an opportunity for the real participation of citizens and residents who will be directly affected by the outcome of the decision.

Qatar is aware that it must demonstrate its ability to the whole world, as all eyes are on the country after it took on such a bold task and announced its dedication to fulfilling it so confidently. This demonstrates true courage in itself; a unique daring that is rare to find. In my opinion, Qatar’s victory over its giant rivals was spurred from this particular standpoint - the bravery of a developing country to challenge monumental countries through ambition, strong determination, and self-confidence. Perhaps this is what impressed the referees the most, making them realise that this is a rare occurrence. Qatar’s power to pose this challenge draws attention and curiosity. Courage and determination are what characterized Qatar from others with ready-to-use facilities, making it ever deserving to win the bid. Now that we have won, we will exert all efforts to achieve, accomplish, build from scratch, conquer harsh natural conditions, and turn the desert into an oasis.

FIFA is also aware that it is also accountable for the rationale of its resolution toward the whole world as the World Cup is an international responsibility affecting sporting fans and the athletic community. Therefore, FIFA wants to rest assured that it made the right decision as its credibility is at risk.

The partnership of citizens and residents to bear the results of this dangerous decision is absolutely essential as it will definitely affect their everyday lives. They are wary of changing the pattern of their lives; suffering in the housing market at the hands of traders exploiting the situation to escalate prices rises, the manipulation of food supplies, demolition and construction, and the narrowing of streets and crowding of others. People could not believe that until recently, major construction for the Asian Games, with the creation of bridges and tunnels, was not complete.

Everyone is also aware, however, that nothing worthwhile in life is achieved without a challenge and the ambition and determination to make a change for the better. The government is required to monitor circumstances on the streets and use an iron fist against parties exploiting the situation and taking ill advantage of opportunities on the account of others during this time. Those who find it appropriate to make money and get rich quick as a result of harassing, manipulating, and displacing people by disrupting their lives. To monitor, an Audit Committee can be established to supervise all aspects of expenditure on mega projects.

It is wonderful for the country to celebrate two occasions so close in time to one another. On the one hand, we just won the Qatar 2022 World Cup Bid. On the other, in just a few days, we will be celebrating Qatar’s National Day. Only two weeks separate these two momentous occasions, allowing Qatar to live out its national dream and pave the road for the world to see the spirit of its people. Qatar will show other small countries how to achieve the seemingly impossible and defeat naysayers who once claimed that Qatar is incapable because it is pampered with wealth and oil. Such an achievement is only feasible with planning, hard work, research, and strategising to ensure innovation and effectively compete with the strongest and most prominent world players.

This small country is up to the challenge. We will achieve all that we have set out for because Qatar’s dream is to achieve victory and prove its capacities. This is the spirit that will realise Qatar’s promising potential and create miracles because it requires building an entire world of facilities. For the first time in history, an entire country will rise because of the World Cup. It is true that Qatar is already on the map but it will emerge a star, reaching new heights worthy of a Guinness record.

There is a story of a hill that transformed into a mountain, which takes place in a small village in Ireland. Two men, a surveyor and a geographer, travelled to it from London and declared to the village that its hill is not worth registry as it is 20 metres short of being classified as a mountain. The villagers, who truly cared about their land, were not satisfied with the result so they convinced the two men from London to stay in their village for an additional two days, with the intention to convert the hill to a mountain by then.

The two Londoners tried to leave but their car was disabled and they were delayed by the villagers from leaving by way of any other means of transport. Little did they know, the people of this village, in the meantime, had begun transporting sand and mud to transform their hill into a mountain. All members of the village; adults, children, and the elderly, joined forces to take on this difficult task in order to record their dear hill into a mountain.

Finally, just as the surveyor and geographer from London managed to find a means to leave, the villagers were ready to ask them to measure their hill once again. They crowned the top of the hill with decorations of flowers and trees, which they moved during the night, and turned it into a tomb for an elderly man who died on this day having sacrificed his life to support the nation by providing transportation assistance all in an effort for the village to mark the country’s geography.

This enthusiasm and rush to register their village and define its visibility amongst other villages and cities transformed a hill into a mountain in two days. Qatar, if you have this desire, determination, and faith in what you wish to be remembered by millions and recorded in history, you will achieve it. It is not easy to transform the country under the conditions of a harsh desert climate that was not touched by culture but for a few decades. Qatar will not just say to the world, “I have extended and established facilities”, but will say that it made an epic transformation unmatched by any other country in the world because other countries evolved smoothly under favorable conditions without the pressure of time and expectations. While other countries took on their transformations over the ages and through generations upon generation, while in Qatar there will be a renaissance in a race against time, revealing the capacity of the country and its people’s skills of creation, creativity, and contribution toward the future.

After the joy of victory and basking in the celebrations, work will begin toward achieving this promise. Everyone will put in their hands to reach this goal and its effects will reach everyone residing in the country. Hosting the World Cup is the responsibility and duty of everyone. One of the many positives of hosting is that business will not be delayed, and officials in ministries and service departments will be required to shake off their sluggishness and stimulate themselves to keep pace with the movement of the country through a sense of urgency and enthusiasm.

Young, energetic people are required to take on a leadership role in determining the means by which to show their contributions to the success of the country in carrying out its mission. Demonstrations of joy must be complemented by encouragement and tools of moral support to effectively reveal Qatari youth’s vigor and legitimate desire to confront the world to showcase their abilities and potential.

Since Qatar’s successful bid is in the name of every Arab nation, as the first country to host the World Cup, Arab cooperation is vital from resident communities in coordination with Arab youth groups in order to renew their determination and open fresh horizons for camaraderie, excellence, and activity.

Congratulations to Qatar both state and nation. It is up to all of us to follow developments, contribute to various stages until the end, and hold the country’s name high. Adherence to transparency, openness, participation, patience, and sacrifice is required from officials and the people as the project depends on a unified approach. This challenge can only be achieved through collective will, cooperation, and effective national power to defeat the invincible and overcome obstacles. We are up to the challenge.

the peninsula

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