By Onochie Anibeze

Qatar will not renege on their pledge to the developing world.
Hassan Al Thawadi, the Secretary General of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee has reiterated that thousands of seats and parts of the stadia that would be constructed for the 2022 World Cup would be collapsed and donated to the developing countries after the 2022 show.

Al Thawadi confirmed this in Doha while unveiling the design of Al Wakrah Stadium in Doha at the weekend.

The Al Wakrah stadium is a 40,000 capacity stadium but it will be reduced to 20,000 seats after the World Cup. Qatar has a population of 2m and they may not need massive stadia for their games after the World Cup. But they will be in great conditions to sustain a sports culture that is fast developing in the Middle East country.

Al Wakrah is a home to the first stadium that Qatar 2022 will deliver. It is 15 kilometres South of Doha. The city is one of the oldest continuously inhabited areas in Qatar. The design reflects the dhow boats that carried generations of Al Wakrah fishermen and pearl divers.

It sits on approximately 586,000 metres and will have facilities that will make it a home to the people. Shopping mall, Indoor facilities, event centres and a mosque will all be within the precincts.

Five more new stadia will be built while some will be upgraded.
“Al Wakrah stadium is being delivered with legacy in mind,” Al thawadi said.

“After 2022, the stadium’s modular 20,000-seat upper tier and associated cooling systems will be disassembled and distributed to developing nations that lack sporting infrastructure.

The remaining 20,000-seat will serve as the home of Al Wakrah Sports Club, whose football team’s kit has been donned by the likes off Qatari legend Mansoor Muftah and French international France Leboeuf