Qatar, the first host of a World Cup to lose on its debut

The opening ceremony of the 2022 World Cup was held at the colossal Al-Bayt Stadium. (AFP)

The organization of the World Cup in Qatar held an opening ceremony this Sunday with a memory of the history of this tournament and which also served as a showcase to publicize life and culture in this region of the Gulf.

Source: AFP

Approximately an hour and a quarter before the initial whistle of the Qatar-Ecuador, the duel with which the first World Cup began in an Arab country, the opening ceremony how hard 30 minutes in the spectacular al bayt stadium from Al Khor, the furthest from Doha, just over an hour’s drive from the center of the Qatari capital.

On a black background, the ceremony began with a nod to the traditional lifestyle in the desertwith some camels on some sandbanks that drew the map of the world.

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With the narration of the American actor Morgan Freemanpresent in the stadium, the event became a tribute to the fanwith songs of all hobbies and some giant t-shirts representing the teams present in this World Cup, in addition to the flags of the participating countries.

With a large yellow stain on one of the bottoms in some mostly black and white stands, the colors of the traditional clothing of the Qataris, the ‘dishdasha’ for them and the ‘abaya’ for women, without any areas reserved for the sexes, the ceremony continued with a tribute to previous World Cupswith the mascots of each of the past editions.

Then he appeared on the scene Jungkook, one of the seven members of the well-known South Korean group bts, who interpreted ‘Dreamers’, one of the official anthems of this first World Cup in an Arab country, together with the Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi.

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— FIFA World Cup ? (@fifaworldcup_es) November 20, 2022

– “We can live together” –

The act was chaired by the top leader of FIFA Gianni Infantino and for the sheikh Tamim ben Hamad Al-Thaniwho delivered a brief speech in which, in a veiled manner, he referred to the criticism from the West for the lack of respect for Human Rights in this country.

“People of different races, nationalities, beliefs and orientations will come together here in Qatar and around screens on every continent. How nice it is that people put aside what separates them to preserve its diversity and what unites them at the same time,” the emir said.

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“We are gathered here as one great tribe. With tolerance, respect, we can live together“he added.

The Secretary General of the United Nations Anthony Guterres and the President of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) Thomas Bach they were also present.

Located about 50 km north of the capital Doha and opened on November 30, 2021, the al bayt stadium has a capacity for 60,000 spectators and takes its name from the ‘bayt al sha’ar’, the traditional tents used by the nomadic populations of Qatar and the Gulf region.

The first match faces the host and current Asian champion (2019), Taste, debuting in a World Cup final phase, and Ecuador, that in his fourth world will try to improve their best historical result, the round of 16 in Germany-2006.