Qatar stresses on importance of sport in protecting youth from crime & drugs, and achieving development & peace
THE State of Qatar affirmed that it included youth crime prevention through sports as one of the pillars of the Global Program for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration, which it financed. This is due to the State of Qatar’s belief in the great role that sport plays in protecting youth from crime and drugs, empowering individuals and societies, achieving development and peace, and promoting dialogue between cultures and nations.
This came in the State of Qatar’s speech delivered by HE the Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Federal Republic of Austria and the Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and international organisations in Vienna Sultan bin Salmeen Al Mansouri before a high-level briefing session on tackling corruption and crime in and through sports, organised by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, in cooperation with the International Federation of Football Association (FIFA).
His Excellency said that the importance of the Global Program for the Implementation of the Doha Declaration stems from the fact that it provides an effective tool and practical practice on the role of sport in protecting youth and creating opportunities for them to develop their behaviors and life skills in a way that protects them from extremism and violence.
He added that this program has succeeded not only in keeping young people away from crime and drugs, but also in transforming these youth into pioneers in their societies who spread sports values and sublime principles. He also pointed out that there are endeavors to include some youth as guests of the State of Qatar during its hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup to present their experience to the youth of the world on that occasion.
His Excellency stressed that defending integrity in sport and the rule of law is an institutional commitment in all countries and called for the importance of combating organized crime in all its forms that seek to achieve rapid profits in various sectors of sport by proposing a set of decisions and proposals that contribute to combating corruption and curbing organised crime in sports.
His Excellency reviewed the many efforts made by Qatar to raise awareness and education with regard to combating corruption and crime in the field of sports, including the organization of a workshop to discuss integrity in sports tournaments and develop a mechanism concerned with combating corruption in the sports sector and organizing tournaments by Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy in cooperation with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).
HE also added that the State of Qatar and the UNODC signed an agreement to combat corruption in the sports sector in order to help countries, organizations and agencies concerned with fighting corruption within sports structures, in addition to the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the UNODC to combat corruption in sport in April 2019.
HE Ambassador Al Mansouri said that, in realization of Qatar National Vision 20 0, the State of Qatar has invested heavily in building and developing sports facilities and developing infrastructure in accordance with international standards, which enabled it to host major sporting events with great success.
At the end of his speech, His Excellency affirmed that the State of Qatar always seeks to host major global events and enhance ways to support international cooperation, pointing in this regard to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, the first World Cup in the Middle East and Arab World, and called on attendees to participate in this historic event. He also referred to Qatar’s endeavor to host the 20 0 Asian Games and the 20 2 Summer Olympic Games.
Executive Director of UNODC Dr. Ghada Wali and FIFA President Gianni Infantino launched from Vienna a global partnership to fight corruption in football, as they emphasized that fighting corruption is a major challenge facing sports in the world and all aspects of life. They called for intensifying international efforts to confront this dangerous scourge that threatens the development and stability of society.
It was also emphasised that the Coronavirus pandemic posed many challenges to football in the world, and that supporting sport at this important time is an important matter that requires the effective contribution of the United Nations and all international organisations.