This evening, a symposium was held entitled " The cultural legacy of the World Cup"at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, as part of the seminar season organized by the Ministry of Culture " In its second edition, in cooperation with Qatar University, the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, and Qatar National Library, from the 4th to the 19th of March. The symposium was witnessed by His Excellency Sheikh Abdul Rahman bin Hamad Al Thani, Minister of Culture, during which Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of State and President of Qatar National Library, spoke in the presence of His Excellency Dr. Hassan bin Rashid Al Derham, President of Qatar University, and a group of intellectuals. During the symposium, His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari stressed the need to activate the gains of the success of the World Cup on the cultural level, adding that pride in this success will not benefit us in anything if we do not use its positive results in bringing about civilized transformations, calling for an integrated plan to deal with a stage after the World Cup. Building on its success and transforming the infrastructure of hotels, stadiums, markets, cultural centers and roads into spaces for cultural, economic and sports movement that make Qatar a role model in continuous success, which is currently evident in hosting the United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries, and its convening at such a high level, and the selection of His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Emir of Qatar, presided over the conference, which confirms the world’s appreciation and confidence in the State of Qatar and its wise leadership. In the same context, the head of the Qatar National Library called for the need for the cultural diplomacy achieved by Qatar to benefit from the World Cup, and for our cultural institutions to benefit, such as the General Foundation for the Cultural Village (Katara), museums, cultural years and educational programs in Qatar Foundation to be tools for this diplomacy and for the establishment of Qatari cultural centers. In the major capitals of the world to serve the Arab culture center style " Diwan " In the German capital, Berlin. His Excellency stressed the importance of spreading the culture of documentation in our society, and that everything related to the World Cup be documented since it began to be thought of until it turned into a success for the State of Qatar and for all Arabs, to record all its details from the efforts of leadership, individuals and institutions in writing, audio and photography, noting that the Qatar Library and cultural institutions, in cooperation Together with the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, we are able to achieve this achievement with our will, experience and technical competencies. His Excellency Dr. Al-Kuwari clarified the connection of the World Cup with cultural dimensions, pointing out that His Highness the Emir defined the cultural position of the State of Qatar regarding this international presence and explained its purpose in addition to its main mission, which is sport, to be an occasion to confirm interaction and mutual respect between cultures, which is embodied on the ground. . He added that Qatar has proven that it will not abandon its cultural values ​​and that it will intervene to prevent transgression of these values ​​when some try to do so, pointing out that our country presented its culture and values ​​throughout the World Cup period, so visitors from different cultures learned about our religion, culture and social values ​​and affirmed the principle of mutual respect between cultures. Stressing that this event was not just a passing sporting event, but rather a historical turning point for Qatar, the Arabs and all countries seeking to advance human civilization, adding " I even consider this turning point as the point where Arab civilization resumed its cycle".
During the symposium on the cultural heritage of the World Cup, His Excellency Dr. Hamad bin Abdulaziz Al Kuwari, Minister of State and Head of Qatar National Library, detailed the achievements and successes of the World Cup on the cultural level, starting with Qataris proving their ability to face challenges, and that they dazzled the entire world with the tight organization and the huge achievements that included the infrastructure. The infrastructure for the World Cup to be held in the best conditions and on the terms of sustainability, stressing that this great success restored optimism and hope to the Arab world at a stage in which the Arab generations need inspiring models of civilized action, and to get out of the captivity of that image drawn by the neo-colonial thought, noting that psychological victory is a prerequisite any civilizational renaissance. He added that the World Cup moved "collective memory" For the peoples, the Arabs and Muslims have restored the glories of their civilization, as well as restoring the role of culture in presenting the ideal image of the State of Qatar, which restored "the culture" To the heart of international concerns, pointing out that the campaign that Qatar was subjected to prior to the start of the World Cup was "cultural campaign" In the first place, dealing with it was cultural, and that there were those who were striving towards "Clash of civilizations" . His Excellency said that the World Cup contained cultural expressions and messages that gave the tournament an exceptional character, showing the value of soft power, as cultural expressions affected millions of viewers in the world, and this reaffirms the effectiveness of cultural diplomacy, of which sports diplomacy is a part. He stressed that the Qatari society won the bet on civilized communication, which led to events "West shock", in which some opponents of Arabs and Muslims considered that our code of values ​​is incapable of accepting other cultures, and that the Arab person is incapable of contributing to human civilization, so that the true image of the Arab person who is capable of action is confirmed when the conditions of creativity are achieved for him. His Excellency Dr. Hamad Al-Kuwari added that the State of Qatar, through the World Cup, provided a lesson in the concept of cultural exchange and respect for cultural specificities and not acquiescing in imposing cultural expressions that contradict Arab-Islamic values, which were an essential part of the cultural expressions of the World Cup, and were defined since the opening ceremony of the World Cup. "compass" All of its activities are based on the concept of "Acquaintance" Al-Qurani through the paragraph that brought together the young Qatari Ghanem Al-Muftah and the American actor Morgan Freeman. The symbolism of the ceremony, with all its components, showed the Qataris’ pride in their belonging to the Arab-Islamic civilization and their pride in its tolerant values. He added that the cultural activities of the World Cup strengthened the identity, and that the Arab-Islamic culture is part of the national identity, and the World Cup also worked to activate the creative industries, as the masses coming from all over the world adorned themselves with headbands and ghutras, and the Qatari Bisht became very popular and symbolic after it was worn by the captain of the Argentine team in Championship cup receiving ceremony. He pointed out that the World Cup did not obscure the just causes that the masses everywhere believe in, because sport is not devoid of human values. Therefore, the Palestinian cause was present in the masses’ conscience and in their cheers and in their expression of support by raising the Palestinian flag everywhere, in an indication that conscience The world is still alive. The symposium, which was moderated by the writer, Dr. Buthaina Al-Janahi, witnessed a great interaction from the audience, which enriched it with many interventions and fruitful discussion. It is worth noting that the seminar season includes 5 seminars, and is considered a live platform and a spacious space to highlight the national culture and enrich it by interacting with global cultures, as well as its primary role in promoting dialogue between intellectuals and generations of intellectuals on pivotal issues of interest to large sectors of society. The next symposium will be held under the title Islam And Modernity next Sunday at Qatar University.
