As the curtains came down on the 2016 Rio Olympics, the doors of Bayt Qatar, Qatar Olympic Committee’s hospitality house at the Games, also closed after welcoming more than 16,000 visitors through its doors.
Those who visited Bayt Qatar also had the opportunity to learn about preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup at the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) booth – and many illustrious names did just that.
The highlight was a visit from Qatar’s Olympic silver medalist Mutaz Barshim, who was given a hero’s welcome.
He was joined by Brazilian football legends Ronaldo and Cafu, as well as Evaristo de Macedo, the former Brazil international who coached Qatar to second place at the 1981 FIFA Under-20 World Youth Championship.
Regardless of the star names, every guest learned about Qatar’s own preparations to welcome the world in 2022, highlighting Al Rayyan Stadium and the most important SC legacy projects including Challenge 22 and Generation Amazing.
SC secretary general Hassan al-Thawadi expressed his happiness at the success of the SC’s participation in Bayt Qatar in Rio de Janeiro.
Al-Thawadi congratulated HE Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad al-Thani, Qatar Olympic Committee president and the head of the Qatari delegation to the 2016 Rio Olympics, for this achievement, as well as to the Qatar Athletics Federation (QAF) and Mutaz Barshim.
He said: “This victory is a result of the QOC’s efforts and its investment in sportspeople as well as the Qatari government’s ongoing support for the sports sector.
“Bayt Qatar has produced excellent results and made people happy. It has been a great motivator for Qataris to redouble their efforts and achieve even more in international sport, both by winning more medals and by hosting sporting events.”
Referring to the high number of visitors received at the SC’s booth, al-Thawadi added: “This is natural because of the Brazilian people’s passion and love for football, with many international football stars hailing from Brazil.
“The high turnout has encouraged the SC to participate in more sporting events around the world, in order to show the true face of Qatar and let people everywhere know about the country’s preparations for the 2022 World Cup and what has been achieved in this regard so far.”
In addition to the public, other former football stars and coaches such as Brazil World Cup winning captain Dunga (1994) and former Brazil international Denilson, World Cup winning defender Lucio (2002), UEFA Euro 2000 winner David Trezeguet of France and former Real Madrid midfielder Christian Karembeu visited the booth.
Qatar’s Olympic team also stopped by, including Nasser al-Attiyah, a bronze medallist in London 2012. (SC.qa)