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Tag: fifa world cup qatar 2022

  • What is Camel flu? Fifa World Cup fans at risk of catching virus deadlier than Covid: Report

    What is Camel flu? Fifa World Cup fans at risk of catching virus deadlier than Covid: Report

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    FIFA World Cup 2022: Football fans in Qatar are at risk of catching Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) infection, also known as Camel flu, according to World Health Organization (WHO) experts. Fifa is expected to draw nearly 1.2 million people from around the world and this massive gathering could trigger the spread of the virus.

    In a study published in the journal ‘New Microbes and New Infections’, scientists have listed Camel flu as an infection risk during the four-week-long sporting event. Camels are known to be the origin of MERS, which is caused by a coronavirus.

    Scientists, as per the study, have found that mass gatherings pose a threat of potential infectious disease spreading rapidly. Considered to be a deadlier cousin of the COVID virus, Camel flu has affected dozens in Qatar over the last decade. The virus kills up to a third of everyone who gets infected.

    Apart from Camel flu, football fans are also face potential health-threatening diseases such as cutaneous leishmaniasis, malaria, dengue, rabies, measles, hepatitis A and B and travellers’ diarrhoea.

    As per WHO, the Camel flu virus could get transferred to humans from infected dromedary camels. Camel flu has been identified in dromedaries in several countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The WHO also claims that human-to-human transmission is also possible.

    Since 2012, 27 countries have reported Camel flu cases, which has led to 858 known deaths due to the infection. Symptoms of Camel flu include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Currently, there’s no vaccine or specific treatment is available, but are in development.

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  • FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony: Event starts with Arabian theme; Jungkook performs new song ‘Dreamers’

    FIFA World Cup 2022 opening ceremony: Event starts with Arabian theme; Jungkook performs new song ‘Dreamers’

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    FIFA World Cup 2022 kicked off in Qatar, on Sunday, with a grand opening ceremony that saw international celebrities perform. The event started with American actor Morgan Freeman’s dulcet voice and an Arabian theme with camels.

    Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani arrived at the stadium flanked by FIFA president Gianni Infantino to a roaring crowd. Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was also present at the opening ceremony and inaugural match of the tournament.

    The opening show also saw the performance of a new tournament song called ‘Dreamers’ featuring singer Jungkook of K-pop boy band BTS, alongside Qatari singer Fahad Al-Kubaisi. Interestingly, Qatar is also the smallest nation to host soccer’s biggest global event. Crowd control will be key with some 1.2 million visitors expected – more than a third of its population.

    A ban on sale of beer was imposed two days before the opening ceremony of the World Cup.However, at the FIFA Fan Festival in central Doha, visitors were seen sipping beers. But the conditions outside the city’s edges were different as hundreds of workers gathered in a sports arena in an industrial zone, without alcohol.

    Thousands of attendees were turned away from a Saturday night concert in the official fan zone because of overcrowding. According to the reports, around 1.2 million visitors are expected to begin arriving this week in the tiny nation on the Arabian Peninsula.

    Qatar – which is home to 3 million people, mostly migrant workers – has spent more than $200 billion on improvements across the country for the tournament. Among the additions are seven new purpose-built venues, including the 60,000-seat Al Bayt Stadium that hosted Sunday’s opening ceremony and the first match.

    (With input from agencies)

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  • Qatar World Cup 2022: FIFA chief says fans can ‘survive’ without beer for 3 hrs amid ban

    Qatar World Cup 2022: FIFA chief says fans can ‘survive’ without beer for 3 hrs amid ban

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    A day after ban imposed by Qatar, the host of this year’s FIFA World Cup, on sale of beer at the World Cup stadiums, FIFA President Gianni Infantino said that the fans can ‘survive’ without the alcoholic beverage for three hours. The much-awaited football tournament will kick off on November 20, Sunday, where the host nation will take on Ecuador.  

    Qatar is the first Middle-east nation to host the world cup. The sale of alcohol is strictly controlled in Qatar as drinking in public areas is strictly prohibited. Earlier, official sponsor Budweiser was allowed to sell beer at the Qatar World Cup official venues.

    Speaking at the opening press conference in Doha, Infantino said: “We tried until the end to see whether allowing alcohol sales was possible.” “If for three hours a day you cannot drink a beer, you will survive. Maybe there is a reason why in France, in Spain, in Scotland, alcohol is banned in stadiums. Maybe they (Qataris) are more intelligent than us, had thought maybe we should be doing that.”

    As per the revised rules, fans and spectators can drink alcoholic beer in the evenings in the FIFA Fan Festival, which is a designated party area that also offers live music and activities.

    Also read: FIFA World Cup in Qatar: Know about host nation, opening match, squads, ticket prices, and more

    The ban came as a major shock to official sponsor US-based beer giant Budweiser, which has reportedly pumped in $75 million as part of the sponsorship agreement with FIFA. And now, when it won’t be allowed to sell its product or have any visibility at the matches, its brand value will suffer. This would a complete breach of the multimillion-dollar contract that FIFA and the beverage company have signed.

    The FIFA chief on Saturday pointed out that even in previous World Cup editions, hosts were asked to make concessions. Like in 2014, Brazil was forced to change a law to allow alcohol sales in stadiums.

    Messi’s injury

    Earlier in the day, Argentinian forward and superstriker Lionel Messi and six other players reportedly missed Argentina’s field training camp at Qatar University as many feared that the ace footballer could be injured.  

    The 35-year-old ace footballer is Argentina’s captain and greatest hope for the upcoming tournament. The South American country hasn’t succeeded in winning the top title since 1986, when superstar Diego Maradona led them to glory in Mexico. Many believe as Messi is paying his last world cup, it’s time for Messi to end the nation’s trophy drought.

    Later in the day, Argentine outlet Ole reportedly said that the Paris Saint-Germain star was part of a ‘special’ programme in the gym, specially designed for him to prevent any risk of injury before the tournament.

    Also read: Who will win the 2022 FIFA World Cup? Brazil is the favourite, Messi may score most goals

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