Despite coronavirus, Qatar says 2022 World Cup will go on as planned

The Qatari FM said the government is currently consulting with the organizing committee, preparing to alter the designs of the nearly completed stadiums to adhere to health official instruction.

Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and the fallout that is projected to follow it for years to come, Qatar’s foreign minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani announced that the 2022 World Cup will go on as planned, according to Sky News.

He added that the Qatari government is currently consulting with the organizing committee, preparing to alter the designs of the nearly completed stadiums to adhere to health official instructions aimed at combating the viral spread within the venues.

“We believe that Qatar is working very closely and strongly with different healthcare organizations to make sure to deliver a healthy and safe World Cup and believe that this is part of the cure for the world to be back together in a happy manner,” the foreign minister told Sky News.

“There is an ongoing exercise with the organizing committee, with different stakeholders, to make sure that all the health and safety standards are applied in all our stadiums, so it’s still something ongoing.”

“Once it’s clear for all of us, I’m sure that we are going to put it out to the public.”

Qatar has reported 65,495 cases of the coronavirus and registered 49 deaths as a direct result of the viral spread since the first cases were identified in China last December.