Al-Sharq, Al-Raya Underline Role of Sport in Promoting Peace, Development

Doha, April 10 (QNA) - In their editorials Sunday, Al-Sharq and Al-Raya newspapers underlined the role that sport plays as a tool to promote peace and development, through continuous contribution to achieving sustainable development goals and dialogue among civilizations. In this regard, the newspapers noted that the United Nations General Assembly welcomed in a consensus resolution adopted Saturday the State of Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022, given that the tournament, which is organized by the international football association (FIFA) this year in the State of Qatar for the first time in the Middle East, has a unique dimension, stressing that this affirms that sport has an important role to play in the promotion of peace and development, and respect for human rights. The papers emphasized that the State of Qatar realized early the role of sport, especially football, in promoting peace, security and sustainable development in the world, and has launched pioneering international sport initiatives in order to benefit from the impact of sport in bringing about positive change at the global level, as sport plays an important role in uniting peoples, countering crime, terrorism and extremism, and ensuring psychological and mental health and well-being. Al-Sharq said in its editorial that under the item "Sport for Peace and Development; Building a Peaceful and Better World Through Sport and the Olympic Ideal", the General Assembly adopted this resolution, emphasizing the important role that sport plays in the promotion of peace and development, respect for human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, in particular football, given its universal popularity. The paper also referred to the speech of HH the Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani during the final draw of the World Cup, which was held in Doha on April 1, in which HH said "The impact of such sports events is not confined only to fun, but rather goes beyond that to a lofty and higher stages that lead us to rapprochement and mutual acquaintance between the peoples of the world." The Qatari daily stressed that the State of Qatar is looking forward with eagerness to welcoming its distinguished guests from all over the world to In a distinguished atmosphere that will remain engraved in the memory as an experience that is impressive and carries all the features of authentic Arab culture and hospitality. In conclusion, Al-Sharq said that the UN resolution welcoming Qatar's hosting of the World Cup, as the first major event that brings together and unites the world after the pandemic, reflects the importance of the event and place, and their role in promoting peace and security, sustainable development, and human rights, as the three main pillars of the United Nations. For its part, Al-Raya newspaper said in its Sunday editorial that the State of Qatar came to the realization early regarding the role of sport, especially football, in promoting peace, security and sustainable development in the world and had launched pioneering international sport initiatives in order to benefit from the impact of sport in bringing about positive change at the global level, because sport is an important factor that unites peoples and because of its ability to fight crime, terrorism and extremism, and ensure the existence of psychological and mental health and well-being. On Saturday, the UN General Assembly welcomed in a consensus resolution adopted Saturday the State of Qatar's hosting of the FIFA World Cup 2022, the newspaper pointed out, highlighting the importance of this global sporting event on Qatar's land, the first in the Middle East, a region that is yearning for peace and development. There is no doubt that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will push for a qualitative shift in the societies of the region that seek security and stability, as the UN resolution came under the title "The 2022 World Cup organized by FIFA in Qatar," the paper noted. Al-Raya referred to the adoption by the UN General Assembly, in which the resolution was submitted by the State of Qatar and sponsored by 106 countries, confirms that sport has an important role to play in the promotion of peace and development, respect for human rights, gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls, in particular football, given its universal popularity, adding that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will leave a clear imprint on the whole world and a lasting legacy for peace and development in the Middle East. Qatar believes in the importance of the role of sport, especially football, in promoting peace and security, sustainable development, as well as human rights, the newspaper said. Through the FIFA World Cup 2022, Qatar seeks to create a lasting legacy in the world, as it will raise the ceiling of creativity to a level that the countries that will host the next edition cannot overcome, adding that creativity and excellence are a Qatari trait, Al-Raya said. The paper pointed out that the most important feature of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is not only that it is the first carbon-neutral version and enhances the principle of sustainability, but lies in the fact that it sends messages of hope to the whole world, especially as it will be the first major event that unites the world after the pandemic that the world has suffered for more than two years. Concluding, Al-Raya said that Qatar has proven beyond any doubt that it is fully prepared and ready to present an exceptional tournament at the end of this year, so that it will remain a lasting legacy of peace and development in the Middle East and the Arab region. The people of Qatar are looking forward to hosting their guests from all over the world with passion and enthusiasm, and they will spare no effort to ensure the reception of the peoples of the world in a distinguished atmosphere, it ended. (QNA)