Pandas sent by China arrive in Qatar ahead of World Cup
Doha, April 25, 2018
FIFA have confirmed that Qatar is now receiving 15,000 tonnes of goods intended for the 2022 World Cup, and one of the biggest shipments of goods to Qatar in recent times. The move comes just before the start of the World Cup in Russia.
Qatar’s National Olympic Committee (NOC) said today it is ‘close to finalising’ the shipment to Doha. The 16-car train has been filled with foodstuffs, pharmaceutical products and construction materials.
The goods will be delivered to the World Cup hosts before the start of the tournament on June 14, having last been transported in 2015 and 2016.
A FIFA spokeswoman told AFP in a statement: “The World Cup logistics committee has confirmed that 15,000 tonnes of cargo has been moved to Doha.”
“Further details of the transport and further information on the World Cup logistics will be released in due course.”
FIFA announced in January that Qatar would host the World Cup in November-December 2022.
Since the Qatar decision, Qatar has been under pressure from some countries and groups in the Arab world to take action against its neighbours.
It is under fire over the treatment of dissidents, the death of prominent Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Bin Hamad al-Thani and over its alleged support for terrorism.
The move will come as a huge relief to Doha, which has been left with a host of logistical problems since the Qatari authorities banned protests in early June.
The ban provoked a long and complicated diplomatic row over Qatar’s human rights record and its alleged links to terrorism in the past.
The move by the Doha authorities has come as a blow to FIFA as the plans to build a World Cup village in Qatar will be put on hold due to the current crisis, sources with knowledge of the plans told the Reuters news agency.
FIFA had already agreed to a £3.1 million ($5.5 million) investment toward a village that will feature a stadium, restaurants, a shopping mall and housing for up to 14,000 fans.
The news that
