People gather at the capital Doha’s traditional Souq Waqif market while the official logo of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 is projected on the front of a building. Photo: AFP
Qatar unveiled the logo for the 2022 World Cup which will be hosted by the Gulf emirate , displaying it in public spaces in Doha and cities around the world on Tuesday .
The design is a stylised Arabic white unisex shawl with maroon patterning , which is displayed in a figure -of – eight symbolising infinity while creating a heart shape above the words “ FIFA WORLD CUP Qatar 2022 ” .
It was projected onto the vast facade of the country ’s National Archives in the capital’ s southern Msheireb district to fanfare that included a procession of soldiers on horseback watched by a crowd of hundreds .
The building was illuminated with the emblem at exactly 20 : 22 local time ( 1722 GMT ) — the same as the year of the tournament .
“ The logo is very elegant and showing local culture with the ( burgundy ) colour of the Qatari flag ,” Algerian hospitality worker Mourad Bencheikh , 36 , told AFP as visitors crowded to photograph the new branding .
“ By the time , people will like it .”
The emblem was also displayed in Madrid , Buenos Aires and Beirut along with several other major cities .
– ‘ It ’ s wonderful ’ –
“ This one is unique for Qatar ,” said Sri Lankan quantity surveyor Mohammed Fairoos , 30 , as he and a group of friends took a selfie in front of the National Archives projection.
“ It ’s wonderful .”
The Qatari organisers said the logo “ was inspired by traditional woollen shawls worn during the winter months ” .
The 2022 event will be held in November and December to avoid the scorching Gulf summer .
“ Like football , the shawls ’ popularity is a unifying force, woven into the everyday fabric of people ’s lives ,” added the Supreme Committee in a statement .
Preparations for the global soccer spectacle in Qatar have accelerated in recent months .
In May , the 40 ,000 seat al -Janoub stadium — the first purpose -built ground to be launched for the tournament — was inaugurated with an almost capacity domestic cup final .
The arena, designed by late British -Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid and located in a coastal town south of Doha, is estimated to have cost around $ 575 million .
Of the eight stadiums Qatar is building or refurbishing for 2022 , Khalifa International was already open and will host this year ’ s World Athletics Championships .
The Championships will be a major test of Qatar ’ s readiness to host a global sporting event. Tens of thousands of spectators are expected to descend on the desert nation ahead of the tournament which begins on September 27 .
A major road overhaul is also underway across Doha to expand capacity at key junctions and traffic hotspots .
Parts of an ambitious metro rail project opened to the public in May . The rest of the three -line network expected to be launched in 2020 — well ahead of the tournament .
The network will connect nearly all of Qatar ’ s stadiums , transport hubs and tourist attractions when it is completed .
FIFA faced a number of negative headlines in recent months including a decision in May to shelve plans for 48 nations to participate in the 2022 contest .
FIFA boss Gianni Infantino had pushed to extend the tournament .
In June, former European football president Michel Platini was questioned by French anti- corruption investigators for several hours in relation to the 2010 award of hosting rights to Qatar .
( AFP )
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