Tribune News Network
Berlin
Qatar is creating a legacy to set the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 as a role model to follow to ensure that future mega sporting events are healthy and safe, Minister of Public Health HE Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari has said.
Speaking at a Sports and Health panel during the World Health Summit 2022 in Berlin, German, Dr Kuwari said that in October 2021, Qatar, represented by the Ministry of Public Health and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), signed a partnership agreement with the World Health Organization (WHO) and FIFA to promote health and ensure health security during the 2022 World Cup, and to seize such an opportunity to promote health during and after the games.
She added that the agreement focuses on supporting individuals in practising healthy lifestyles through maintaining a healthy diet and physical activity, reducing risk factors for health, as well as communicating the message to Qatar’s residents, visitors, and members of the global community watching the games on television.
"Healthy World Cup is an embodiment of the National Health Strategy (2018-2022) emanating from the Qatar National Vision 2030 that strives for a healthy population,” she said.
The minister pointed out that Qatar recently celebrated being the first country in the region to have all its municipalities awarded as healthy cities by the World Health Organization, which means that Qatar’s residents and visitors will enjoy the vast green spaces, walking paths and plenty of healthy alternatives across Qatar.
Dr Kuwari added that to promote mental health awareness, the Ministry of Public Health and WHO, in collaboration with Qatar Foundation, have launched an initiative to build 32 Friendship Benches – representing each participating FIFA World Cup nation - where residents and visitors will be encouraged to meet and ask each other ‘Are you OK?’ and take this opportunity to engage in dialogue and promote physical activity.
Those 32 benches will be distributed in prominent locations across the country.
The Sport and Health session was attended by WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and several former athletes.
Qatar’s Ambassador to Germany HE Sheikh Abdulla bin Mohammed bin Saud Al Thani participated in the opening session of the World Health
Summit.