Nationwide statistics present 414 employee deaths over the eight-year interval. AP
Qatar fought a “tradition struggle”, corruption claims, and accusations over rights abuses in internet hosting the World Cup however consultants say the Gulf state has strengthened its picture in all places besides elements of Europe.
The emirate went into the match below scrutiny for its remedy of overseas employees and LGBTQ individuals however one of many last photographs to emerge from the occasion was Qatar’s emir placing a conventional Arab cloak over the shoulders of Argentina star Lionel Messi.
“That’s what individuals will bear in mind,” mentioned Carole Gomez, a sports activities sociology specialist on the College of Lausanne, in Switzerland.
She highlighted fears over the occasion’s organisation and security, and condemnation confronted by Qatar earlier than the World Cup began.
“The politicisation was not as unhealthy because it may have been and if there have been issues they didn’t get a lot protection,” Gomez mentioned.
The energy-rich state spent a minimum of $200 billion on infrastructure tasks forward of the World Cup which rights teams declare had been constructed by exploiting low-paid overseas labourers, who confronted harmful working situations.
Qatar insists it has since made critical reforms to employees’ rights.
Its ruler, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani, declared on the finish of the competitors “we’ve got fulfilled our promise to organise an distinctive championship” — the primary in an Arab nation.
As a serious world provider of pure fuel and an middleman in battle zones equivalent to Afghanistan, Qatar already possessed diplomatic clout nevertheless it struggled to achieve public recognition.
Nevertheless, the World Cup has left an impression on the Arab world and past.
– Scarf diplomacy –
Pictures of Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman sporting a Qatari scarf on opening day, and Qatar’s emir later draped in inexperienced Saudi colors, sealed the neighbours’ reconciliation after Prince Mohammed led a regional blockade of Qatar from 2017 to 2021.
The general public airing of the Palestinian trigger in stadiums and Morocco’s surge to the match’s semi-finals additionally boosted emotions of Arab pleasure.
Qatar has already lined up extra sporting occasions to maintain it within the worldwide eye. It’s also reportedly getting ready a bid for the 2036 Olympics, in addition to internet hosting summits and different occasions together with Method One in 2023.
Western media and worldwide rights teams took intention at Qatar over labour and gender rights earlier than the soccer gala.
Andreas Krieg, an affiliate professor of safety research at King’s Faculty London, mentioned Qatar had been caught in “a tradition struggle” in Europe, however he thinks the criticisms had little influence in a lot of the world.
“Qatar has been ready to make use of the World Cup successfully to ascertain its model, particularly within the International South,” mentioned Krieg.
“This has made Qatar a rallying level for the Arab and Islamic world which has mobilised in help for Qatar as a champion of regional points, equivalent to Palestine or anti-colonialism,” he added.
Since world soccer’s governing physique FIFA named Qatar host in 2010 allegations of corruption surfaced. However the organisation says nothing regarding Qatar has been confirmed and has shrugged off the controversy.
The World Cup “gave Qatar an opportunity to cleanse its picture as a rustic of scandals,” mentioned Raphael Le Magoariec, a specialist on sports activities geopolitics on the College of Excursions, in France.
Simon Chadwick, professor of sport and geopolitical economic system on the SKEMA Enterprise faculty in Paris, mentioned the Gulf state has “witnessed a internet mushy energy profit” in Asia, Africa and the Arab world from its World Cup marketing campaign.
Attitudes have even modified in some elements of Europe, added Chadwick, though he believes “there may be nonetheless some appreciable resistance” in international locations equivalent to Denmark, Germany, and the Netherlands.
However with a brand new Belgian investigation into allegations Qatar tried to purchase help inside the European Union parliament some consultants say Doha will now have to start out a whole lot of the arduous work on public relations once more.
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