The State of Qatar affirmed Thursday its support for all international efforts to confront crimes targeting the security and safety of sporting events, given its long history as a host of major international sports tournaments and its preparations for hosting the FIFA World Cup in 2022.

This came in the speech given by head of legal affairs at the World Cup 2022 security committee and representative of the State of Qatar to the Council of Europe Brigadier Ibrahim Khalil Al Mohannadi, in the session organized via video conference by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) on safeguarding sports.

Al Mohannadi stressed the important of the event in raising awareness regarding the targeting of sporting events by organized crimes, and identifying ways to combat it. He said that there was great urgency to do so, given sports have become an important platform that brings different peoples together. He added that there were a lot of mechanisms implemented that limit crimes targeting sporting events, overseen by United Nations agencies, the Interpol, the Council of Europe and other bodies. He added that the State of Qatar is cooperating in all these initiatives, in light of its responsibility and history as a host of major sporting events.

He also said that the State of Qatar attaches great importance to protecting sports tournaments from crime and corruption, especially as it has become a destination to host the most important sporting events at the regional and international level. He noted that the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), charged with completing all requirements related to organizing the World Cup 2022, agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the UNODC on implementing a program for sports integrity and enhancing capabilities in that field. He also said that the State of Qatar also cooperated with the Interpol on a program to use international indicators in the field of securing sporting venues. He said that the cooperation included implementing a program that improved the skills of Qatari security personnel to better meet the requirements needed from them when on duty during the organization of sporting events. Cooperation also extended to include cybersecurity, he added. He also noted that the SC has entered into a partnership with the Council of Europe within the framework of supporting the European agreement on the safety, security and services of major sports events.

He stressed the need to give priority to efforts aimed at combating corruption and organized crime in sports, and to build international cooperation in this regard. He also highlighted the important played by the media, academia, civil society and the private sector in supporting those efforts in terms of raising awareness and developing capabilities to address these challenges.

(QNA)