“Qatar is among the 10 safest countries in the world”
The host nation for the 2022 World Cup has put in place a security plan in conjunction with Interpol to ensure the tournament is completely security conscious.
The first World Cup to be staged in the Middle East, Qatar 2022, will serve as a bridge between cultures according to organising committee CEO Hassan Al Thawadi, and at the same time it will be the most secure to date given its proximity to areas in which fundamental Islamist terrorism has found a foothold in recent years.
Qatar is holding a Major Events Security Conference in Doha this week in conjunction with Interpol, which will be working with the host nation to ensure the safety of fans, players and other people connected with the tournament that starts on November 21, 2022.
“Qatar is continuing to work to create a secure environment for its citizens. Ours is a country recognized for its safety. Today we are among the 10 most peaceful countries in the world, at the same level as Singapore and Switzerland. We are also the most secure country in the entire Middle East region,” said Al Thawadi upon opening the conference on Tuesday.
"We have been to games in England, Spain and France"
The event will bring together 360 people from 65 countries and will be attended by Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock. Among the dignitaries at the opening session was Qatari Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani.
“We have alliances with governments in Europe and the United Kingdom. Qatar plays a leading role in the resolution of conflicts and that is one of the foundation stones of our foreign policy. We will only ensure that the World Cup is completely safe with an integrated law of cooperation. We must all work together and in this preventive focus we are working together with Interpol. We have been to World Cups and attended games in England, Spain and France to learn what the operational systems to put in place are,” said Al Thawadi.