Tribune News Network
Doha
Telling the story of the first FIFA World Cup in the region was an incredible honour for Ehab Al Malky – who managed the delivery of Arabic media content for the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) for more than five years.
The proud Egyptian played football at college level but a serious leg injury stopped him from competing. He went on to work as an English teacher, translator and copywriter before being reunited with the beautiful game when he joined the SC to support Qatar’s World Cup preparations.
Ehab, 45, spoke to the SC about his Qatar 2022 experience as part of the ‘Amazing: Delivered’ series.
Why did you join the SC?
For me, working on a World Cup was the opportunity of a lifetime. When the chance came to support the first tournament on Arab soil, I didn’t hesitate for a second. This doesn’t compare to any other milestone in my career. I was laser-focused on making this possible. To be part of history and join the remarkable team responsible for the first World Cup in the Arab world was an incredible opportunity.
Tell us about your role.
Our team’s role was to communicate details of the tournament to audiences everywhere, whether it be media outlets, stakeholders or football fans. My role focused on ensuring the output of high-quality content in Arabic across different platforms, like media releases, features, video scripts and social media posts. That means making sure the content is legible, direct and clear for our Arab audiences all around the world.
What does it mean to you to have worked on Qatar 2022?
It means everything. Football has always been my passion. In my final year of college, a double fracture in my left ankle forced me to stop playing the game I love. As I laid there on the hospital bed, mourning the end of my football career, I could not have imagined that one day I would be at the heart of organising the most important football tournament in the world. To me, working on Qatar 2022 was like living my wildest dream.
What is your favourite memory from the tournament?
I hold a lot of fond memories from Qatar 2022, but what stands out most was how I took advantage of the tournament being hosted in the country I live in. This was something I knew was special and unlikely to happen again. Despite the workload, I attended as many matches as I could, most of which were at Lusail Stadium – a mere 15-minute walk from my home. In total, I attended 13 matches – eight of which were hosted at Lusail.
How did your team make a difference during the World Cup?
The tremendous interest from Arabs everywhere to tune into this World Cup placed a great responsibility on us to connect these audiences with everything related to the tournament. I often say: if the reader feels the content is translated from a foreign text, then we have failed in our mission. Readers should be able to see the originality, quality, clarity and coherence of the content. The most important thing was to deliver the message with clarity and brevity.
What are your biggest achievements and most memorable moments?
Documenting the most important milestones in the lead-up to Qatar 2022 for more than five years and conveying it to Arab media, while covering everything from stadium construction, inaugurations, legacy programmes, the people behind the World Cup and activities around the 29-day tournament.
What are the main lessons learned from your Qatar 2022 experience?
The most important lesson I learned was that what may seem impossible can be achieved through action, determination and by facing challenges. Many doubted Qatar’s ability to organise this World Cup, but it continued on its path without hesitation and eventually succeeded in impressing the world.
What advice would you give to people working on future mega events?
My advice to anyone who has the opportunity to work on a huge project like the World Cup is to make the most of it. These are unique opportunities that may never be repeated. You should seize the opportunity, take advantage of it and learn – especially when you’re in a diverse team with expertise from all over the world.
