AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 Opening Ceremony Draws Arab, International Media Attention

Opening Ceremony

Arab and international media outlets gave great attention to the opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which was held at Lusail Stadium on Friday, hailing the noble humanitarian messages delivered during the ceremony, urging coexistence and love of peace, as well as the focus it gave on the centrality of the Palestinian cause in solidarity with the Palestinian people through the ordeal they are going through.

The Saudi media praised the efforts of the State of Qatar in terms of the world class professional organization that makes the Arab and Gulf peoples proud, and considered the success of the opening ceremony to be the result of good investment in human resources.

The 1st Saudi Channel indicated that Qatar has reached a stage where organizing sporting events and success in them has become a common thing, and that the Qatar 2023 edition of the AFC Asian Cup will not deviate from the norm, stressing that the State of Qatar possesses all the elements of success in terms of infrastructure and giant projects in addition to organizers and volunteers.

The Channel added that the State of Qatar presented world class performances, and confirmed that Gulf people can make impressive and successful achievements. It noted that Qatar's sporting success is linked to teamwork in several aspects and is a reflection of the economic, educational and political success that the country has achieved.

Meanwhile, Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) praised the organization of the Asian Cup Qatar 2023 opening ceremony and its humanitarian messages. highlighting Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos's ceding the tradition of taking the championship oath to his Palestinian peer Musab Al Battat.

Dubai Sport 1 TV Channel aired a report highlighting the messages conveyed by the opening ceremony, in terms of pride in identity and drawing inspiration from authentic literary heritage, including revealing the missing chapter of the historical novel "Kalila and Dimna," which stories form cultural bridges extending between Asian all countries and draw a map of love and solidarity among its people.

The report touched on the ideal start for the Qatari team in its journey towards defending their title after scoring an unanswered hat-trick against the Lebanese team in the first match held at the Lusail World Cup Stadium.

Jordan's news agency (Petra) noted the visual and audio performances presented during the hour long ceremony, merging modern technologies with the heritage and originality that characterizes the Arab region, as it recounted a long history of nobility and civilization that distinguishes Arabs from other peoples.

The news agency pointed out that the ceremony carried messages of support for the Palestinian people, and solidarity with the people of Gaza Strip in the ordeal they have been going through since Oct.7, referring to Qatar captain Hassan Al Haydos's ceding the tradition of taking the championship oath to his Palestinian peer Musab Al Battat.

Palestine's "WAFA" news agency highlighted the remarkable Palestinian presence at the opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, noting that the ceremony featured performing Palestinian songs, and showing traditional attire. WAFA also touch on the Al Haydos ceding of the championship oath tradition to his Palestinian peer Musab Al Battat. 

The Saudi MBC channel hailed the dazzling image of the opening ceremony of the tournament, pointing out that Qatar always comes back to showcase excellence and innovation to the world and has organized the tournament with a world cup-creative style presenting the missing chapter of Kalila and Demna book in an innovative way through leveraging cutting-edge technologies creating a magnificent atmosphere that garnered the attention of all.

In a report Abu Dhabi Sports (AD) Sports Arabic television channel highlighted the opening ceremony of the tournament and emphasized that the whole world watched the inauguration of the 18th edition of AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 at Lusail stadium that offered the world a beautiful painting of Arab heritage in an Asian frame. The AD channel noted that the opening ceremony was reminiscent of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 tournament.

The report stressed that Qatar remained expert in hosting major sporting events as the organization of such events morphed into a lifestyle in Qatar making Doha the capital of sports by excellence.

The Omani Television affirmed that Qatar has fulfilled the promise in the opening ceremony of the tournament that vividly translated its major expertise in organizing variety of championships at all levels, noting that it has become easy for Qatar to host any emergency tournament any time like the 1995 FIFA World Youth Championship that was suddenly assigned to Qatar and had subsequently succeeded in organizing it more expeditiously resulting in strikingly sparing FIFA from embarrassment.

Oman Sports TV hailed the messages of the opening ceremony that underscored the centrality of the Palestinian cause which represented a spectacular gesture on the part of Qatar. The channel focused on fans interaction inside and outside the stadium through the accompanying cultural and recreational events.

Iraqi Media, on the other hand, reported that the opening ceremony was unique and exceptional and included the missing chapter of Kalila and Demna book the precious global literature authorship.
The Iraqi Channel 4 News noted that the ceremony featured a distinguished impression such as the nine stadiums which host the matches, along with the ten Arab teams, adding that what distinguishes this tournament from the others is the participation of Palestinian team that all Arab fans will rise to support them.

In addition, the Iraqi UTV satellite television network lauded the opening ceremony of the tournament whose chapters were inspired by Kalila and Demna book from which the global literature derives stories and examples. A story broadcasted by the aforementioned network said it enjoyed the most beautiful moments of the past, present and future during the opening ceremony.

The Lebanese AlJadeed TV added that the event was a lavish and unprecedented ceremony attended by high-ranking officials and dignitaries from all over the world, alongside numerous global sports figures. The Iraqi network pointed out that espousing the Palestinian cause has strikingly emerged during the inauguration ceremony, since the presence of the Palestinian team was striking, during which the the captain of Qatari national team, Hassan Al Haydos recited the oath of the tournament while wearing the famous Palestinian keffiyeh. Al Battat and Al Haydos left the stage together in an embracing sports scene in support of the Palestinian cause in an unprecedented change for the inauguration's protocol that stipulates the recitation of oath on the part of the host.

Al Arabiya TV Channel reported in a statement about the championship in which it confirmed that for the first time the Semi-Automated Offside Technology (SAOT) is applied which distinguishes it from the previous edition, in addition to offering the fans the opportunity to watch three matches in one day.

International news agencies also highlighted the opening ceremony of the Asian Cup Qatar 2023, noting the connotations this ceremony carried, and also highlighted the prominent Palestinian presence in light of the ongoing Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip since Oct. 7.

Reuters indicated that Lusail Stadium, where the final of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 between Argentina and France was held, hosted the opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which witnessed Musab Al Battat, captain of the Palestinian national team, delivering the championship oath, after Hassan Al Haydos, captain of the Qatari team, ceded the tradition to him.

Reuters added that the ceremony was entitled "The Missing Chapter of Kalila and Dimna, an Asian heritage book that represents the cultural similarities in the vast continent. It also noted the remarkable Palestinian presence.

German news agency (DPA) also gave attention to the opening ceremony of the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023, which revealed the missing chapter of the historical novel Kalila and Dimna, which tales form cultural bridges extending between all Asian countries.

"Kalila and Dimna" is considered an immortal and eternal global legacy, containing many messages related to coexistence, understanding and cooperation, which are the same concepts that reflect the spirit of the Asian Cup Qatar 2023, it added.

France's (AFP) praised the Palestinian presence at the opening ceremony of the tournament amid the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip, and also highlighted the gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian cause when the team Qatar's captain Hassan Al Haydos, ceded the honor of performing the tournament oath to the captain of the Palestinian team.

AFP also praised the world class organization of the tournament's opening ceremony, stressing that Qatar completed its preparations to host the 2023 Asian Cup Qatar in record time after announcing it as the host country in October 2022, the day after China apologized for the measures imposed at the time due to the spread of the Covid-19.

(QNA)