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The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has received a parliamentary delegation from members of the European Parliament who were given an overview of progress and preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ by the SC Secretary General H.E. Hassan Al Thawadi.

The European delegation was led by Ramona Manescu, Member of the European Parliament for the Romanian National Liberal Party, and Sheikh Ali Bin Jasim Bin Thani Al Thani, Ambassador, Mission of the State of Qatar to the European Union.

A wide range of topics were discussed including Qatar’s preparations for the tournament, workers’ welfare progress, initiatives aimed at building a sporting industry and foster innovation in the region such as Josoor Institute and Challenge 22 as well as matters related to security and accommodation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™.

“It is quite extraordinary to see how Qatar is developing and becoming a major player. I have had the opportunity also to look at the whole issue of the World Cup in 2022, and as someone who is a keen football fan I am looking forward to the tournament,” Afzal Khan, Member of the European Parliament for the British Labour Party, told www.sc.qa after the meeting.

“It is reassuring for me that progress is being made in preparations. It will be great to have the tournament in the Arab and Muslim world for the first time. The world we live in is a global village, and we need to create ways to join people because football is something we share. Qatar really has the opportunity to bring the world together, unite the East and the West. There is so much passion and love for football here which I have seen, which is a good thing.”

The visiting EU delegation was also given an overview of the SC Workers’ Welfare Standards and how they are being implemented across SC projects, having already visited the new accommodation built by the State of Qatar at Labour City.

“It was good to see the various safety precautions that are being taken for workers, because this was one of the concerns you hear when you are outside,” added Khan. “It is good to see the progress being made on that front as well. Today we visited an area where 100,000 migrant workers are going to be hosted. Their facilities, recreational and medical, their shopping and leisure areas – seeing that at first hand changes your perception. When you are outside just listening to the media, it doesn’t give you quite the picture as when you come and visit it.”

Concluding with his impressions on progress taking place across the country, the Manchester United fan added that he would be back for the tournament in 2022.

“I am delighted to have had this opportunity to visit Qatar. The SC are dedicated, very professional and passionate about their work and go into detail to make sure that every aspect of this huge project is delivered in a way which does credit to Qatar and the FIFA World Cup, and I am confident that will happen.”

Amjad Bashir, Conservative British MEP for Yorkshire and the Humber, added: “Within eighteen months there has been such exhilarating and fantastic change, there is a real buzz about this place. I’m excited to see not only the design but also the build of the stadiums, because I know from Manchester how excited the Arab crowd is about football. It is right that the World Cup comes to this part of the world, and a brilliant idea that Qatar hosts this event. I think they have thought about everything, you can never get everything right, but they have done their best.”