GENEVA: The World Health Organization (WHO) and Qatar today launched a new multiyear collaboration to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup, being held in Qatar, a beacon for physical and mental health promotion, and also a model for ensuring future mega sport events are healthy and safe.
The three-year joint project, titled “Healthy 2022 World Cup – Creating Legacy for Sport and Health,” was announced at a joint ceremony at WHO’s headquarters, in Geneva, by Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghrebreyesus, WHO Director-General; H.E. Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Qatar Minister of Public Health; H.E. Mr Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Qatari Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy; FIFA President Mr Gianni Infantino; and Dr Ahmed Al-Mandhari, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean.
WHO and Qatar, working closely with FIFA, will undertake joint activities to place the promotion of healthy lives, health security and physical and mental well-being at the heart of the world football’s pinnacle event, being held from 21 November-18 December next year.
In addition, another critical goal of the project is to set and translate the best practices in health promotion, security and safety, as practiced at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, for use at major sporting events around the world.
“I would like to thank Minister Al Kuwari and the State of Qatar for teaming up with WHO to make the 2022 FIFA World Cup a role model for healthy sporting events,” said Dr Tedros.
(Source: www.who.int)
