Doha, March 22 (QNA) - The culture of volunteering has become an integral part of the culture of developed societies due to its noble values and ethics, especially since volunteering is an ancient phenomena in human history, as it includes humanitarian efforts made by segments of society and is based on the desire and self-motivation of people.

The Volunteer Programme launch was marked with a glittering event at Katara Amphitheatre in Doha, in the largest volunteer activity in the history of Qatar.

The ceremony was attended by HE FIFA President Gianni Infantino, HE Vice Chairperson and CEO of Qatar Foundation Sheikha Hind bint Hamad Al-Thani, and HE Secretary General of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy Hassan Al Thawadi.

A number of football legends, ambassadors of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, and nearly 3,000 volunteers attended the event.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy was keen to convey its message to all those wishing to volunteer in five languages, in addition to sign language; Fatima Saad Al Mohannadi and Rima Khamis Al Kuwari gave a distinguished presentation to talk about volunteering, saying that distinguishability does not happen without a reason, but happens because of you, and this phrase was later translated into English, Chinese, French and Spanish.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his happiness at the opening of applications to participate in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Volunteer Programme.

At the beginning of his speech during this special celebration, which he attended in the uniform of volunteers, Infantino welcomed the audience and said that something wonderful will be waiting for us, and it is a beautiful and special feeling to be here in order to launch the volunteer programme. The World Cup will start on November 21 and will witness the participation of 20,000 volunteers, he said, adding that this will be a beautiful and exciting adventure, and it will be a journey that will leave unique and lasting memories in your mind for a long time.

FIFA President further added that the most important is that the volunteers are the first face, the first smile that any visitor to Qatar will find when they arrive, as they will accompany visitors from the airport to the hotels, help them find restaurants, guide them to the stadiums, and sympathize with them in all circumstances and conditions and even in winning or losing because that is the most important characteristic of football.

Infantino said "You are the first face, the first smile that any visitor to Qatar will find when they arrive. Thanks to you, we can show the entire world that Qatar, the Gulf region and the whole Arab world is welcoming the planet for an incredible experience here in November and December this year. The world will unite in Qatar and celebrate a peaceful, wonderful and unforgettable event."

He continued that they expect a wonderful World Cup because they work as one hand with each other and need the combined efforts of all people, male and female volunteers. FIFA wants to unite people and establish harmony among all people through a football festival whose principle is peace and safety, he said.

He thanked everyone who was in this evening, including referees, coaches, players, fans, and the volunteers who are the cornerstone and beating heart of the World Cup.

FIFA President made his statements inflaming the enthusiasm of the volunteers who chanted the name of Qatar strongly, so that the voice resounded strongly on the Katara stage, in an ideal atmosphere that reflected the atmosphere of the World Cup. 

In his speech at the ceremony announcing the opening of applications to participate in the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Volunteer Programme, HE Secretary General of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Hassan Al Thawadi affirmed that volunteers are an inspiration to all.

Last evening was one of the most important milestones in the country's World Cup journey, he said, adding that he wants to reach out to friends and football fans across the country, across the region, across the world and invite them all to be an integral part of the tournament.

The Secretary General of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) thanked the contribution made so far, noting that the event does not concern the State of Qatar only, but it is an event for everyone.

The World Cup will be hosted by Qatar in a way that has not been seen before, and thanks to the sharing of beautiful values, he thanked everyone who supported them and everyone who helped reduce the gap between East and West and between North and South.

"As we enter to deliver the greatest FIFA World Cup in history that leaves an unmatched legacy for the entire Meddle Eastern Arab world, you volunteers will be the beating heart of our tournament," he added.

During the Arab Cup, thousands of volunteers attended all the stadiums with passion, enthusiasm, and love of football and the dedication of everyone to serve the values of friendship, and this would not have been possible without the volunteers, he said.

HE pointed out that volunteers are the cornerstone for the success of any sports and football festival, indicating that they help people from different backgrounds and learn a lot in a short time and their work is not limited to the period allocated for the football match.

Al Thawadi said in his speech that volunteers are the beating heart, the cornerstone for the success of partnership between peoples, stressing that contribution of volunteers cannot be counted. He affirmed that volunteers share human values and have a spirit of humility and do this in order to make others happy.

He also invited people to come to Qatar, and guaranteed the generous hospitality they will enjoy while being the beating heart and spirit of the World Cup.

His Excellency concluded his speech by saying to everyone who wants to visit the State of Qatar, to be part of the promises made, to be part of the values of football, and most importantly, to join this program and go on a beautiful adventure, assuring them that the World Cup will constitute a qualitative leap in embracing football festivals, calling them to work as a group, not individually.

For his part, the official spokesman for the Secretary General of Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) Khalid Al Naama said that the committee aspires to reach 20,000 volunteers in the Qatar World Cup, and that the vast majority of volunteers will be from the Arab region in order to contribute with in welcoming the whole world in 2022.

He added that the world witnessed the State of Qatar's ability and complete readiness to organize the World Cup through its success in hosting the Arab Cup.

The Arab Cup was an experimental event through which the State of Qatar and the International Football Association were preparing to measure the operational capacity of the tournament, Al Naama said, stressing that the participation of 20,000 volunteers will be one of the success factors in the World Cup.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy's Volunteer Strategy Manager Nasser Al Mogaiseeb said that the volunteer's journey will start electronically in eight stages, starting with the registration stage, followed by an interactive test stage for the volunteers to discover their talents and the most suitable place for them, then the interview stage, whether inside or outside Qatar. After this stage comes the acceptance stage, if approved, the volunteers will reach the training stage, and the they will learn about 3 types of training in this tournament, then the testing stage as the final stage.

SC's official ambassador Mohammed Saadoun Al Kuwari said that opening the door to volunteering is a golden opportunity and an affirmation of the importance of all volunteers in various sports fields, stressing that Arabs will have priority in being chosen to work as volunteers in the World Cup.

Social media has played a major role in the world in changing the way of communication and contributes greatly to creating distinguished content, delivering messages and informing people of what is happening, and therefore, it will have a major role in the success of this edition of the World Cup, Al Kuwari said.

The next edition of the World Cup will witness the participation of 20,000 volunteers, providing support across 45 functional areas at official and non-official sites such as stadiums, training sites, the airport, fan zones, hotels and public transportation hubs.

An entire team of behind-the-scenes volunteers are responsible for every ticket, every shot, every match and every goal, and they are an integral part of the overall process that will allow us to enjoy a friendly and fun atmosphere during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. They will also provide tremendous support in the implementation of operations during the most prominent sporting event, so that the volunteers will once again contribute to drawing lasting memories in the minds of fans, players, the media, the State of Qatar and the whole world.

Those wishing to join the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Volunteer Programme can register through the website: volunteer.fifa.com

Applicants from Qatar and different parts of the world are welcome to apply. They must be at least 18 years old on Oct.1, 2022. Speaking English is a requirement, while Arabic will be an advantage. (QNA)