As promised by Italian Artistic Director Marco Balish, the opening ceremony of the Mundial 2022, held this Sunday before the competition opening match, between Qatar and Ecuador, was spectacular in visual terms and sent a message of inclusion and unity, with the aim of responding to the criticism that race has been targeted, of the more than 6,500 lives lost in the construction of stadiums, the lack of respect for human rights, the persecution of the LGBTQI+ community and the corruption involved in choosing the country to host the race. Sensitive themes that were eventually forgotten in the speeches and choreographies.
The big surprise of the ceremony was the presence of American actor Morgan Freeman. A choice that was not accidental, given that he is not only recognized worldwide for his interpretations, but is also a social activist (linked to various climate causes) and, ironically, a few years ago he starred in the cinema in the role of Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa and Nobel Peace Prize winner in 1993, for his fight against the regime of racial segregation, in the film Invictus.
The actor, who starred in a dialogue calling for inclusion with Ghanim al Muftah, a well-known Qatari activist who suffers from caudal regression syndrome, recalled that “football unites nations and brings the world together” at the start of the ceremony. , in a speech calling for tolerance, peace, inclusion and unity of peoples: “With tolerance and respect we can live together in harmony.” “Am I welcome?” Al Muftah asked at one point. Freeman responded, “Everyone is welcome. This is an invitation to everyone.”
After the projection of images that tried to show that the small country hosting the 22nd edition of the World Cup has a tradition in the modality, the well-known North American actor stated: “We all have a football history and this country has a very own”.
After several refusals from internationally renowned artists (including Shakira, Rod Stewart) to participate in the ceremony, the musical animation of the color and light show was entrusted to Fahad Al Kubaisi, a singer and human rights activist in Qatar.
Emir remembers diversity
The actor’s presence as master of ceremonies caused several criticisms, especially on social networks, with several people recalling the coincidence of being present in Qatar on Black Consciousness Day, in a country known for violating various human rights.
Another speech was delivered by Tamim bin Hamad al-Tani, the Emir of Qatar, where another message of inclusion and unity was passed on, but several controversial topics were forgotten. “People of different races, nationalities and orientations are all welcome in Qatar to experience these exciting moments. How beautiful it is to have people together and not divided to celebrate diversity,” he said in the speech that marked the conclusion of the ceremony, in a stadium almost devoid of women, and with FIFA President Gianni Infantino seated to his left.
After promising the United Nations General Assembly a World Cup “without discrimination” in September, the emir said “the long-awaited day has arrived” and added: “From today and for 28 days, we will take the world around the unity show football”.
The Al Bayt Stadium, in Al Khor, also paid tribute to the volunteers of the most controversial World Cup in history. Outside of the ceremony, which lasted about 30 minutes, came the controversies that have sparked criticism from various government organizations and even from some of the event participants, instances of corruption, labor exploitation and disrespect for the rights of LGBTQIA+ people.
Ecuador defeated host country
At 4 p.m., the World Cup, between hosts Qatar and Ecuador, started in a match related to Group A, with the presence on the field of a Portuguese man: Pedro Correia, known as Ró-Ró (son of Cape Verdeans born in Portugal).
The South Americans won 2-0, with goals scored in the first half, both by Enner Valencia (he saw another disallowed for offside), a striker coached by Jorge Jesus at Fenerbahçe, who not only made history when he scored as first in this World Cup and also became his country’s top scorer in World Cups (four goals), surpassing compatriot Delgado (3).
The first goal of this World Cup was scored from a penalty kick, which is the third time in the competition’s history, after Neymar in 2014 and Cheryshev in 2018. And it was the first time in World Cups that the competition’s host team lost in the opening game.
Source: DN
