Five Decades of Heritage, Modernity.. Khalifa International Stadium Celebrates HH the Amir Cup Golden Jubilee

Doha, March 17 (QNA) - Celebrating the golden jubilee of HH the Amir Football Cup, one of the most prestigious and oldest Qatari competitions, is a history full of sporting achievements, and the Khalifa International Stadium, the first stadium for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is celebrated. The countrys national stadium was inaugurated in 1976 and has since hosted several major events, including the Arabian Gulf Cup, AFC Asian Cup, the Asian Games, FIFA Club World Cup and IAAF World Athletics Championships. HH the Amir Cup, which was launched four years before the construction of the Qatar National Stadium, the Doha Stadium, the oldest of Qatars stadiums, was honored to host its first and second editions, while Al Ahli Club (Hamad bin Khalifa stadium) had the honor of hosting the third and fourth editions. As for Khalifa International Stadium, which was opened in March 1976 to host the fourth edition of the Gulf Cup, it won the honor of hosting HH the Amir Cup final for the first time in the 5th edition, season 1976-1977, which brought together Al Sadd and Al Rayyan. The history of Khalifa Stadium is full of hosting sporting events since it was officially opened in the match between Qatar and Saudi Arabia at the start of the Gulf 4, which ended with the victory of the host country with a goal scored by Suleiman Al Mas, and through Qatar winning its first Gulf title in 1992. With the development of Qatar in sports, the stadium hosted in April 1995 the World Youth Cup, which was crowned by the Argentine national team after defeating its Brazilian counterpart in the final match (2-0), after this tournament, the world knew well the organizational capabilities of Qatar. Khalifa International Stadium underwent a renovation and expansion in 2005 before Doha hosted the 2006 Asian Games, to be increased its seats from 20 to 28 thousand spectators, and a roof was built on the western side of the stadium along with a large arch on the side east, also building a roof on the western side of the stadium along with a large arch on the eastern side. The Khalifa International Stadium witnessed the Asian Nations Championship in January 2011. It hosted six matches in the continental championship, including the opening match between Qatar and Uzbekistan, the semi-final between Australia and Uzbekistan, and the most famous final between Japan and Australia. Khalifa International Stadium underwent a second modernization process that began in November 2014 to adjust its specifications to be compatible with the standards and requirements of the (FIFA) for Qatars hosting of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, where the new design of the stadium was revealed on the sidelines of the 22nd edition of the Gulf Cup in Riyadh, in a move that reflected the unity of the brothers and the special status of Khalifa International Stadium in the hearts of the people of the Gulf. The new design included updating the shape of the stadiums floor and adding 12,000 seats, bringing its total capacity to 40,000 during the World Cup, while preserving the stadiums two distinctive arches, which have become a symbol of it in the memory of football fans. In less than three years, Qatar reopened Khalifa International Stadium on May 19, 2017, as the first stadium for the 2022 World Cup, ready for the final match of HH the Amir Cup between Al Sadd and Al Rayyan. The stadium has undergone many changes, including the addition of a new amphitheater for the audience in the east wing, the construction of a roof to cover the stadium, in addition to the innovative of cooling technology that will ensure an ideal atmosphere for players and fans throughout the year. Two dressing rooms were changed, 61 hospitality suites were added in the eastern section, the VIP suites were modernized in the western section, and the control room and television studios were rehabilitated. In addition to changing some sections of the external facades, as well as the establishment of a sports museum that will include historical sports holdings and modern interactive exhibitions that display the history of sports in Qatar and reflect the relationship that links Qatar with international sports. This sports complex is to develop future generations of Qatari talent through the Aspire Academy, and is close to Aspetar Hospital, which is one of the world's leading hospitals in the fields of orthopedics and sports medicine. Khalifa International is now the centerpiece of a sprawling sports complex, next door is Aspire Zone, which trains Qatars next generation of sporting talent, along with the globally renowned Aspetar sports medicine hospital, and Aspire Dome, the worlds largest multipurpose indoor sports hall. Based on the important capabilities that it enjoys, Khalifa Stadium received a four-star rating certificate according to the "Global Sustainability Standards Assessment System", which is supervised by the Gulf Organization for Research and Development, making it one of the best stadiums in the region in terms of sustainable design. The stadium now appears in a modern look after completing the changes it underwent, and its ceiling is topped by two arches that represent continuity and symbolize the embrace of fans from all over the world. The stands inside the stadium are now protected from various weather conditions by a canopy that damages the sides of the stadium, in addition to advanced cooling technologies that control temperatures more. The stadium is connected through a short pedestrian walkway to the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum, showing the extent of this place's attachment to its past and its pride in it during its journey towards building a bright future. Khalifa International Stadium will be on a date with football fans from all over the world to attend the matches of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 until the quarter-finals. (QNA)