MORGAN FREEMAN, BTS’ JUNG KOOK TAKE CENTRE STAGE AT #FIFA OPENING CEREMONY
The FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony took place on Sunday evening at the Al-Bayt Stadium in Al Khor, near Qatar’s capital, Doha. The official World
Cup anthem for this year, Dreamers, was performed live for the first time by Qatari singer Fahad AlKubaisi and BTS’ Jung Kook, which took place right before the first game of the sporting event.
Jung Kook’s performance was highly praised online for being respectful, as it included tributes to previous anthems performed by artistes such as Ricky Martin, Shakira as well as Enrique Iglesias.
Before Jung Kook took the stage, Hollywood actor Morgan Freeman gave a moving monologue titled The Calling, telling viewers: ‘We all gather here in one big tribe’.The Oscar-winning actor also extended a yellow-gloved hand to YouTuber, Ghanim Al Muftah, a FIFA World Cup ambassador, suffering from a rare spinal disorder, in an image meant to represent inclusion in a country facing international criticism over its human rights record. Muftah also enthralled the spectators with the recitation of verses from the Quran.
Other performances of the evening included a Qatari and Arab art form of the ‘ardha’ war dance and a small medley of iconic
World Cup anthems like Cup of Life by Ricky Martin, Waka Waka by Shakira, and Wavin’ Flag by K’naan.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, vice president and prime minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, was in attendance and was accompanied by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s Crown Prince and chairman of the Executive Council. After the performances by artistes, Al-Thani gave a speech in which he welcomed the world to the World Cup 2022. “How lovely it is that people can put aside what divides them to celebrate their diversity and what brings them together,” he said. The Qatar mascot La’eeb also was seen during the opening ceremony ahead of the World Cup Group A football match between Qatar and Ecuador on November 20.
The theme of the event was the coming together of all people and overcoming differences through humanity. It was produced as a throwback to previous World Cups, complete with background music that included K’naan’s Wavin’ Flag. Former footballers Iker Casillas (Spain), Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Silva (both Brazil), and Marcel Desailly (France) presented the World Cup trophy in front of the crowd. Desailly raised the trophy to display it to the crowd, who roared their approval of the former football player. The words ‘Welcome to Qatar’ filled the sky as the show came to a dramatic conclusion.
HTC