The Amir Cup Organizing Committee Says Preparations Complete for Final, Al Rayyan Stadium Inauguration

Doha, December 16 (QNA) - The organizing committee of HH the Amir Cup said that preparations were complete for the match between Al Sadd and Al Arabi, set to take place with 20,000 fans attending World Cup 2022 fourth stadium Al Rayyan. Head of marketing at the committee Khalid Al Kuwari said in a press conference held today that 95 percent of tickets were sold, saying that priority was given to fans of Al Sadd and Al Arabi by allocating tickets to the two clubs. After that process was completed, access to tickets was granted to all football fans so they can get to enjoy the match. Al Kuwari said that the tickets reservation and sales process, which are awarded after carrying out a COVID-19 test on the ticket holders, did not face any issues. He praised the role played by both Al Arabi and Al Sadd for marketing the tickets of the final, which will also see the inauguration of Al Rayyan stadium. He added that ensuring all fans in the stadium had carried out a COVID-19 test did not affect the sales process. He highlighted that demand for tickets continues to increase, maintaining that the tests were carried out to ensure the safety of everyone attending. Head of the facility at the committees Hassan Al Kuwari said that holding the final and inaugurating the fourth stadium of World Cup 2022 sends a message to the World that Qatar will be ready to host the world’s biggest footballing event two years from now. Al Kuwari said in the press conference that preparations are running smoothly to hold the final that will coincide with the country’s national day celebrations. He added that Al Rayyan stadium is now ready to host the fans. He also said that the final will serve as a good opportunity to test the stadium and the fans experience. He encouraged the fans to come early, gates will open three hours before the match, and to adhere to all health precautions required. He also said that food and drinks will not be allowed inside the stadium. During the press conference, Al Mawlawi said that the services of the host country are one of the tasks required by FIFA in hosting any sporting event, pointing out that these tasks concern everything outside the security fence of the stadium, Especially in relation to coordination with government or private agencies or various services, be it related to transportation, security or infrastructure, as well as the readiness of the facilities around the stadium and the readiness to receive the fans. Al Mawlawi revealed that more than 7000 parking spaces have been provided for the fans at Al Rayyan Stadium, in addition to providing parking spaces in the Education City, and shuttling the fans to the match stadium, amid precautionary measures. For his part, head of the facility at the Amir Cup Organizing Committee, Major Abdullah Al Ghanem touched on the plans for security preparations for the final match, with an emphasis on the emergency plans, pointing out that there will be eight tents for security checks, 5 of which will be allocated to the fans. The security plan was developed in a way that guarantees the security and safety of everyone when entering and exiting the stadium, ruling out that the security measures would cause traffic jams in the area surrounding the stadium. He added that the committee is fully prepared to receive the masses and secure the match, indicating that the inspection procedures will be quick and will insure wearing the masks, as well as adhering to the health procedures and instructions issued by the competent authorities inside and outside the stadium. The Advisor to the Minister of Public Health for Sports and Emergency Affairs Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Musleh, explained that the Amir Cup final match at the opening ceremony of Al-Rayyan Stadium will witness a special medical protocol that has not been applied in any sporting event held during the period of the Covid-19 pandemic so far, indicating that Qatar will be the first country in the world to allow the entry of so many fans in a football match under these circumstances. Al-Musleh said that the experience of implementing this protocol will have great repercussions all over the world, and it will push many countries to apply it in the future in light of the Coronavirus crisis, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic may continue until the mid-2021, and that life should continue, and everyone must coexist with this pandemic in all ways. He added that all those who will attend the final match will undergo a coronavirus test, and the tests has already begun today for the fans in three locations, which are Al Sadd Club, Al Arabi Club, and the National Convention Center, as well as conducting tests for those who have contracted the disease before, and those who will prove negative will attend the match in a designated place. Al-Musleh called on the fans to adhere to all health measures and procedures applied during the match, especially with regard to social distancing, wearing masks, and adhering to the seats allocated to each fan, in order to preserve the safety of everyone in particular and society in general. (QNA)