On the eve of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Health for all Challenge was held accenting Qatar hosting the healthiest World Cup with the aim to create a legacy for sport and health. Thousands of people took part in Walk the Talk Doha, which began at Al Bidda Park. The participants were offered the choice of two routes, 3 and 5 kilometres, taking in key Doha landmarks, including the Corniche area and the FIFA World Cup countdown clock. The walk was led by Minister of Public Health H E Dr. Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari and was joined by Director General of the WHO, Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus; Secretary General of FIFA Fatma Samour; Secretary General of Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi; and Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean of WHO Dr. Ahmed Al Mandhari. WHO Sport for Health Ambassador and former FIFA World Cup footballer, Didier Drogba; Qatar’s double Olympic Gold Medal high jump champion Mutaz Barshim; and Qatar’s Olympic Gold Medal weightlifting champion Fares Ibrahim also attended the event.
Dr. Al Kuwari said, “Regular exercise and activity, including walking, not only support good physical health, but also our mental health and wellbeing. I am delighted to have partnered with WHO, FIFA and Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy to bring the Walk the Talk initiative to Doha for the first time. I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to everyone who took part in Walk the Talk Doha and helped to make this a true celebration of health.”
She affirmed the readiness of the health sector to provide all health and treatment services to local and visiting fans during the World Cup in various event sites, fan areas, match venues and other sites related to the tournament. The National Healthcare Incident Command Center is in constant coordination with the various relevant authorities in the country, to deal with any potential emergency.
“WHO is delighted to team up with the Ministry of Public Health and bring Walk The Talk to Doha to kick start the FIFA World Cup in the healthiest of ways. This is the first World Cup that will be working with sports and health together; it will be an experience for future World Cups. This World Cup will be the healthiest World Cup ever,” said Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. “The Walk the Talk series is about bringing people together, to promote the importance of health for all, and enjoy the benefits of sport and physical activity,” he added.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) and World Health organization (WHO) came together to organise the event, within Sport For Health partnership and in collaboration with FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy. “This is part of an initiative that we have worked. We have a partnership with the Ministry of Health and WHO, FIFA to promote healthy life style utilising the World Cup to promote a number of initiatives. We have made enough commitments and this is one of them, promoting healthy life style,” said Hassan Al Thawadi. “This will be the healthiest World Cup held ever,” he added.
