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Authorities in Qatar announced that in order to increase security at World Cup stadiums, the country has recalled certain national service conscripts from their civilian jobs.
The Gulf state will rely on international security troops in addition to its own army and police to manage the mammoth task of protecting over a million fans scheduled to attend during the 32-nation competition.
National Service Conscripts for the Qatar World Cup
All males in Qatar between the ages of 18 and 35 are required to serve a four-month mandatory military service starting in 2014. Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, the emir, hinted in a recent statement that he was thinking about requiring women to serve in the armed forces.
Some conscripts have been called up for World Cup duty despite being able to extend their service if they hold a critical position. A government statement claims that the national service program in Qatar would proceed as usual even though the country will be hosting the World Cup.
A government official further emphasized that a restricted number of provisional recalls would be made available to help recruits finish their mandated duty.
This is a common practice during large-scale public events like the celebration of a country’s national day. The 2019 world athletics championships and the 2018 FIFA Arab Cup served as examples of the usage of conscripts for security purposes in Qatar.
A security official has stated that in addition to the conscripts, hundreds of World Cup volunteers and private security guards have received specialized training in preparation for the massive crowds that are expected to gather around the 8 stadiums in the Doha area.
While Qatar employs more than 50,000 police and military personnel, thousands of private guards are being deployed to ensure the safety of the stadiums, and police from other nations are helping to maintain order in the streets. Diplomats have reported that Pakistan and Morocco will also send security forces to the World Cup, joining the 3,200 that Turkey has already promised to send.
Public health security measures for the Qatar World Cup
Health experts from the Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have put in place a wide range of precautions to reduce any potential public health concerns during the tournament for the sake of the players, officials, fans, and local people.
These initiatives are a component of the Ministry of Public Health’s (MoPH) and the World Health Organization’s (WHO) Sport for Health cooperation. The health security pillar of the partnership is just as important as health promotion when it comes to protecting the health and safety of those taking part in mega-sporting events.
For example, event-based surveillance to prevent the spread of infectious diseases, risk messages, and risk assessment prior to and during large-scale gatherings at stadiums are all part of this.
FIFA has learned how to organize a football tournament in the midst of a pandemic. To manage the World Cup qualifying tournament, it swiftly established a Task Force in consultation with relevant parties.
In accordance with WHO guidelines, robust processes were implemented to safeguard the athletes, and these were fine-tuned over time to guarantee the complete safety of spectators.
Is Qatar completely ready for the World Cup?
On September 9, a friendly match between Zamalek of Egypt and Al-Ahly of Saudi Arabia was played in the 80,000-capacity Lusail Iconic Stadium, the latest of seven new stadiums erected for the World Cup.
On December 18, the World Cup final will take place in the magnificent Lusail. Just In case you missed everything regarding the remaining schedules, check our dedicated World Cup 2022 fixtures Singapore time page.
Seven brand-new structures have been constructed and tested in preparation for the World Cup, and the beautiful architecture of Al-Bayt Stadium and Al Janoub, designed to resemble a pearl, will earn Qatar full marks for design.
The vast five-line highway network and Metro system are ready to transport fans from one stadium to another, with the longest journey taking less than an hour from Al Janoub to Al Bayt, but with only a few weeks to go before the first game, there are few fan amenities available.
Will the World Cup 2022 in Qatar be safe?
Security measures of this kind are already standard at any major event, and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar will be no exception. Bordering countries will be called upon for assistance, both in terms of knowledge and troops, due to the sheer magnitude of their security forces.
Even if you choose a more laidback option to catch the Qatar World Cup via a World Cup 2022 free livestream, it’s good to know that there are programs to ensure the safety of the public, including health protocols that are being implemented to guarantee a smooth-sailing WorldCup22 experience.