QRCS initiative to follow World Cup in 7 crisis-hit nations sees big turnout
QATAR Red Crescent Society (QRCS) said Wednesday that the humanitarian initiative it has launched in seven crisishit countries to follow the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 has been seeing a big turnout.
The initiative was launched by QRCS ahead of the kick-off of the World Cup Qatar 2022, with support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Qatar Fund For Development (QFFD), the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and beIN Sports, to help the seven countries experiencing humanitarian crises enjoy the events of the tournament.
QRCS established fan zones in cooperation with its partners in more than 40 locations across Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan, Yemen, Sudan, Bangladesh and Syria. In a statement, QRCS noted that the fan zones has seen a broad participation of thousands of football fans who enjoyed watching the tournament matches on giant screens, in addition to participating in sports, entertainment and awareness activities, which QRCS organizes through its offices and missions in the target countries.
Director of the Relief and International Development Division at QRCS Dr Mohamed Salah Ibrahim said that the initiative, which was launched in conjunction with Qatar’s organization of the FIFA World Cup, is in line with the humanitarian efforts undertaken by the State and humanitarian organizations in refugees and displaced persons areas.
He pointed out that, as the QRCS is aware of the importance of the role played by global sports goals in alleviating the suffering of vulnerable groups, and contributing to psychological and health support for them, it organized several sports and entertainment activities, and providing suitable places to display football matches, so that the beneficiaries could follow them and share this joy with Qatar and the world.
He emphasized that sports is for everyone, and that sports supports humanitarian issues and is a positive catalyst for all ages; indicating that the initiative provides through its educational and entertainment programmes an atmosphere of joy, happiness and social cohesion.
Heads of QRCS missions in the target countries stressed the importance of this humanitarian initiative and the accompanying events, and the opportunities it provided for everyone, including children, youth, men and women, in addition to refugees and displaced persons, to live the joy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and make them feel close and involved, thus confirming the harmony between sports and the humanitarian message.