A WELCOME like none other in the past; an extravaganza of dance, music and choreography with a continuous message of unity.

Twelve years after it was awarded the right to host the World Cup, Qatar opened the tournament in spectacular fashion on Sunday at its bedouin tent-styled Al Bayt Stadium in the desert.

The tiny Gulf state has spent an estimated $220 billion to host the first World Cup of the Arab world and it certainly spared no expense in an Olympic-style ceremony.

“How beautiful it is for people to put aside what divides them in order to celebrate their diversity,” Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani said to loud cheers in his address in Arabic. “Let this tournament be full of inspiring days of goodness and hope, and welcome everyone to the world in Doha.”

No sooner had he finished, and after the arrival of the tournament’s mascot La’eeb on the pitch, fireworks and pyrotechnics illuminated the evening sky ahead of the World Cup opener between the hosts and Ecuador.

Opening ceremony organisers, with creative director Marco Balich — a veteran of several Olympic opening and closing ceremonies — had said the seven-act gala narrated by Morgan Freeman would be “a strong visual concept, a bespoke musical project and world class talents interlacing Qatari tradition with worldwide culture”.

It certainly was, and it began after a former France World Cup-winning defender of 1998, Marcel Desailly, brought the World Cup trophy to the pitch.

Freeman, the five-time Oscar nominee, opened with a message of unity — one that Qatar has been preaching in the face of widespread criticism after its suspicious award to host football’s showpiece tournament before it was targeted for its size and ability to hold it as well as on rights of migrant workers and LGBTQ persons.

Freeman took to the stage with Ghanim Al Muftah, a Qatari entrepreneur and philanthropist who suffers from Caudal Regressing Syndrome, an ailment which impairs the development of lower spine.

A recitation from the holy Quran about diversity was read out by Al Muftah and then came the musical show.

South Korean pop star Jung Kook of BTS, dressed in black, and Qatari singer Fahad Al Kubaisi sang a duet of the official World Cup song Dreamers.

The Arabic ‘Ardha’ war dance followed to the beat of drums and swords being wielded.

Freeman was back then, saying “football spans the world and unites the nation”, before a video montage of the history of football in Qatar was played, showing people playing the game in the desert.

Message of unity

Qatar’s emir not only welcomed people on behalf of Qatar but also the Arab world. Alongside him were two leaders from countries that had been part of the Arab blockade of Qatar in 2017 — Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El Sissi in another message of unity.

The opening ceremony came to a close, but there was then a stunning welcome for both teams as well ahead of the opener.

A giant replica of the World Cup trophy was placed on the centre of the pitch before fireworks and a light show encircled it.

FIFA chief Gianni Infantino, who had defended Qatar’s right to host the World Cup in an impassioned news conference on Saturday, opened the tournament to loud cheers.

“Mabrook,” said Infantino. “Welcome to celebrate football because football unites the world.”

Now, the onus was on Qatar’s national team, making their bow at football’s biggest stage, to follow it all up with a performance of its own. It couldn’t, being swept aside by Ecuador 2-0.

Published in Dawn, November 21st, 2022