Qatar Challenge To Hold World Cup Amid The Economic Crisis Due To The COVID-19 Pandemic

Illustration (Twitter @qatarday)

JAKARTA - The COVID-19 pandemic has indeed had a financial impact on the world economy. However, the Qatar 2022 World Cup organizing committee will try to make ticket rates for the four-year football party not too expensive.

Although he believes that the world public health situation will improve when the World Cup is held in November-December 2022 in Qatar, Hassan Al Thawadi, one of Qatar 2022 World Cup officials, realizes that there are challenges from the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"How is the outcome of the recovery? At the moment, everything is still unclear, we are starting to enter a recession situation, there will always be concerns regarding the global economy and the ability of supporters to pay the costs of enlivening the World Cup," said Al Thawadi as quoted by The Suns, Thursday, May 21.

Al Thawadi, who serves as Secretary General of the High Committee for Conveyance and Heritage, said he had consulted a number of industry experts and planned to continue with organizers of other sporting events, including the Tokyo Olympics, which were postponed to 2021.

The most important element of the plan, continued Al Thawadi, is to ensure that the fare for the event remains affordable for fans.

"From day one we always said it was going to be an affordable tournament, we wanted everyone who wanted to be able to come to the World Cup," he said.

"Now with the uncertainty of the world situation after COVID-19, there is no clear blueprint that can be discussed.

"But we remain committed to balancing a World Cup that is affordable for supporters and one that continues to function for this industry, including those involved in it such as services and those who are responsible for smoothing the tournament," concluded Al Thawadi.

The 2022 World Cup will be the first to be held in winter rather than the regular schedule in the summer, with 32 countries participating.