Doha, October 30 (QNA) – The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy inaugurated Sunday the International Consular Services Centre at the Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) in the presence of HE Secretary-General of the SC Hassan Al Thawadi, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Chief Operating Officer Colin Smith, and CEO of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Nasser Al Khater.
Also attending the inauguration were Their Excellencies the ambassadors and representatives of the embassies of the 31 countries whose teams qualified for the World Cup, in addition to the countries that recorded the highest ticket sales for the championship matches.
The first-ever center in the history of World Cup was launched in cooperation between the SC and many of its partners, including the ministries of foreign affairs and interior, and a number of government agencies in Qatar.
Including representatives of more than 40 embassies and consulates accredited by the state, the center aims to support fans from all over the world, to attend the activities of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
The center operates daily from 10 am to 10 pm during the period of the tournament from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18.
HE Al Thawadi hailed the inauguration as a source of pride, highlighting that the launch of the center sought to communicate with all consulates to provide all services to the public, and to solve any problem they may encounter.
Al Thawadi said the center will provide several services, most notably the speedy communication with the concerned authorities like the Ministry of Interior or Foreign Affairs or any concerned party in case of emergency, noting that there are contact numbers available to the fans to communicate with the center at any time to provide all services.
His Excellency hailed the country’s perfect preparations for the World Cup, stressing that Qatar is now fully prepared to host the big event. He reiterated that everyone is welcome in Doha, and expressed his confidence that the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 will be an exceptional edition in all respects as Qatar promised since winning the World Cup bid.
CEO of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Nasser Al Khater stressed the importance of launching the consular center to keep fans in touch with the embassies of their countries, especially with the center being located in downtown Doha, close to the main ticket sales center, the main Hayya Card center, and the FIFA Fan Festival in Al Bidda Park, Doha Corniche.
For his part, HH Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to the State of Qatar Prince Mansour bin Khalid bin Abdullah Al-Farhan Al-Saud said that the initiative to establish the International Consular Services Centre (ICSC) is ideal as it will serve fans attending the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. HH noted that the Saudis will come to Qatar in large numbers to support the Saudi national team in the World Cup. All the preparations confirm that the World Cup will be exceptional, in light of distinctive infrastructure and stadiums at the highest level, which generates complete conviction among everyone of the success of the event, HH added.
For his part, HE the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland Janusz Janke expressed his appreciation for the initiative to establish the ICSC, praising, in a statement to Qatar News Agency (QNA), that the step is considered professional by the State of Qatar and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC) to confront any challenges or obstacles that the public may encounter.
HE the Ambassador expected the presence of large numbers of Polish fans, in addition to the Polish community residing in Qatar, noting that the presence of the center allows the public to coordinate with the consular authorities, FIFA, and local organizers.
In turn, HE the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to the State of Qatar Javier Carbajosa Sanchez stressed that the center provides the public a direct communication with the team that can solve problems, congratulating the State of Qatar for the idea, which he described as wonderful.
HE the Ambassador added that the Spanish national team will do everything possible to win its second title in the World Cup, after winning the first one in South Africa in 2010. At the same time, HE acknowledged that the competition will not be easy in light of the presence of many strong teams. HE called on the Spanish fans to come to Doha, stressing that everyone will find it a beautiful country with hospitable people, and the attendees will enjoy the unique World Cup.
HE the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran Hamid Reza Dehghani stressed that there was an urgent need to establish a consular center that would provide services to the public coming to Qatar, especially the Iranian fans, who would travel to support the Iranian team in the tournament, which may be more than 30,000.
HE the Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal to Qatar Dr. Mohammed Habibo Diallo said that center is an urgent necessity. His Excellency considered its establishment a qualitative initiative, the solution to all problems facing the masses, and an assistant factor for embassies in facilitating the task of all the masses who will visit Qatar during the World Cup, noting that this is a calculated step for Qatar.
HE the Ambassador stressed that there are fans from Senegal who will come to Doha to support the team, extending his thanks to the State of Qatar, which has sponsored nearly 300 Senegalese fans, who form a special association to support the Senegalese team, which is competing in Group A that includes Qatar, Netherlands, and Ecuador. (QNA)