A chance to prove football is a unifying force: Thawadi

SC.qa
Doha
With the iconic Qatar Airways Cup at stake, FC Barcelona and Al Ahli Saudi FC will bring the spectacle of football to the Middle East in a match that is symbolic of the aims the country had when bidding for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar. To be played at the Al Gharafa Stadium, the game will be a chance to prove the unifying force of football.
The Qatar Airways Cup trophy was unveiled at the pre-match press conference in Doha on Monday by the CEO of Qatar Airways, Akbar al Baker, and the Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), Hassan al Thawadi.
Inspired by the Boeing 787 Dreamliner, the trophy has been handmade in Doha, cast in 18 carat gold, and aims to reflect the global unity that sports inspires, while also signifying the reward of teamwork, effort and determination.
"We are very proud to support two iconic teams through our sponsorship of FC Barcelona and Al Ahli FC, but to bring these two beloved teams together for this phenomenal match makes us even prouder," said Baker.
"We are also very happy because fans from around the world have chosen to fly into Doha with Qatar Airways to watch this iconic match. We're happy to give these travellers the first taste of the Qatari hospitality," he added.
Meanwhile, Hassan al Thawadi thanked the players, coaches and management of FC Barcelona and Al Ahli Saudi FC for ensuring the Match of Champions became a reality."Tomorrow's match between Barcelona and Al Ahli is a chance to prove that football is a unifying force that brings people from different cultures together.
"Any major football tournament that Qatar hosts up to 2022 is a major milestone for us. It helps us gain experience in hosting major events. It's not only about operational readiness, but also about broadcasting, transportation, commercial and a wide range of elements. We will have many more opportunities to put ourselves through this test," he said.
"This is an important milestone in the path to host the 2022 World Cup. This is not only a Qatari World Cup, but an Arab, Middle Eastern one. Tomorrow's match will represent one of the milestones to showcase this," he added.
With the stadium at full capacity, football fans from as far as Thailand and Singapore will fly into Doha to attend the game.