December 05, (THEWILL) – FIFA President Gianni Infantino took the opportunity of the International Volunteer Day to emphasise the critical role that volunteers play in the delivery of FIFA tournaments. Infantino saluted their support during the ongoing FIFA Arab Cup 2021 while acknowledging their participation in the upcoming FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
“Volunteers play a crucial part in the success of any tournament and event,” the FIFA President said. “They are the lifeblood of the FIFA Arab Cup and of all FIFA competitions, and we thank them all for their outstanding support and tireless dedication.
“In one year from now, the eyes of the whole world will be on Qatar for the FIFA World Cup, and we count on volunteers as an important part of our winning team to deliver the biggest and best global football event the world has ever seen.”
The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on FIFA tournaments has been mitigated in 2021, with almost 300 registrations per day on the FIFA global Volunteer Platform. It is a statistic not lost on FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura, who said:
“We are overwhelmed with gratitude to all the volunteers who keep registering online, and this growth points to the power of football to unite and bring out the best in society.
“From young students to our oldest volunteer so far, a 77-year-old man, the platform has democratised volunteering in football, opening up opportunities to everyone.”
Volunteers from all over the world, from Lithuania to Qatar, have been vital in the execution of all FIFA competitions in 2021, during which friendships were formed and talents were learned, but also in the spirit of fun and togetherness.
Greta, for example, who volunteered her time to ensure the success of the FIFA Futsal World Cup Lithuania 2021, has summed up just what the experience means to many. “This opportunity has opened the door to wider horizons,” Greta said, as this tournament concluded in early October.
“I learnt to work in teams with strangers, and I met not only wonderful Lithuanians, but also FIFA volunteers, who showed me that anything is possible if you just want it. I don’t even know how to describe it, just that I would definitely repeat it all over again and dive straight into all the adventures we have experienced here.”
It is a sentiment that has been duplicated all around the world, not least in Qatar, which is quickly becoming one of the global game’s focus areas. Over 70,000 applications for the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 were submitted, with over 5,250 applications received on April 29, 2021, the first day of the tournament’s volunteer programme.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
