Football reinforced its unique cohesive power by uniting the world in a spirit of peace and friendshipJakarta (ANTARA) - The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, whose games ended last Sunday, represented an opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity and promote tolerance and coexistence between cultures and people.
Ahead of the tournament, the Amir of the State of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, confirmed during his speech at the General Assembly of the United Nations (September 20) that the World Cup 2022 would strengthen understanding among people and cultures, as noted in a release issued by the Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA) received here on Friday.
"In the tournament, held for the first time in an Arab Muslim country, and for the first time in the Middle East in general, the world will see that one of the small- and medium-size countries is able to host global events with exceptional success, in addition to its ability to provide a spacious ambience for diversity and constructive interaction between people," Qatar's Amir stated.
According to the Amir, the tournament reflected Qatar's keenness to use the global event to unite global efforts to face common challenges.
"No matter how diverse our nationalities, religions and ideas are, but our duty is to overcome obstacles, extend a hand of friendship, build bridges of understanding, and celebrate our common humanity," he remarked.
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The approach to extend the tournament beyond the narrow competitive space into the spacious horizons of human ideals and values has manifested since the opening ceremony that was held at Al Bayt Stadium (November 20), where verses from the Holy Qur'an calling for acceptance of difference and diversity among human beings were recited.
It also manifested in the speech of the Amir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, during the opening ceremony, in which he said: "How beautiful it is for people to put aside what divides them in order to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together at the same time."
The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) confirmed this human horizon based on bringing together different people and cultures that distinguished the World Cup in Qatar from all earlier versions.
"Football reinforced its unique cohesive power by uniting the world in a spirit of peace and friendship," FIFA said.
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Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Hissein Ibrahim Taha commended Qatar's excellent organization that amazed the world and made the tournament a historic edition praised by all participants and watchers.
The Union of OIC News Agencies (UNA) also praised the great success achieved by the State of Qatar in organizing a unique and exceptional version of the World Cup, noting at the same time the warm reception and hospitality shown by Qataris to the guests of the World Cup that created a great rapprochement between people.
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The message of tolerance in the World Cup comes within the framework of Qatar's regional and international efforts to consolidate the principles of tolerance and spread a culture of coexistence that would create a healthy and appropriate environment to enable peace in societies.
Since 2010, Qatar has hosted the United Nations Fellowship Program for the Alliance of Civilizations that comes within the framework of deepening mutual understanding of young people in the Islamic and Western worlds and increasing their awareness of cultural, political, religious, and social differences as well as the role that young people can play to reduce extremism and intolerance on both sides.
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Since promoting coexistence and establishing peace is also linked to supporting sustainable development efforts, Qatar has ensured that these efforts are at the heart of the activities and initiatives launched during the World Cup.
In such a context, Qatar launched on November 21, the unprecedented campaign "Scoring For The Goals" that calls for solidarity to achieve the goals of sustainable development on the sidelines of the World Cup 2022 that is considered the most sustainable edition in the history of the international event.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the tournament as the best FIFA World Cup ever.
In a statement posted on Tuesday on FIFA's website, Infantino said: "What you have done and what they have done to welcome the world to this country - this beautiful country - has been unbelievable, and everyone felt at home."
The FIFA President stated that the tournament had brought the world together for the first time in the history of the modern World Cup.
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Reporter: Yuni Arisandy Sinaga
Editor: Fardah Assegaf
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