HE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani said that the State of Qatar sees the major sporting events as unique opportunities for spreading the values of brotherhood, solidarity, peace and human rights.

In his opening address to the side event on 'Hosting Major Sports Events: Promoting Respect For Human Rights', HE Deputy Foreign Minister and Foreign Minister said that the absence of fair play, honesty and neutrality, results in irresponsibility and violations of rules and regulations. In the absence of accountability for these violations, the rules are absent and thus the game itself is absent.

Sports and human rights reinforce each other. Sport can become a universal language, because it has strong potential, for the development and protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms for all, in a way that can greatly contribute to the promotion of solidarity, diversity, equality, tolerance and justice, His Excellency said pointing that values such as integrity, transparency and respect for human rights must always be the values governing all sports.

Based on this, the idea of regular organization of sporting events emerged and developed in different parts of the world, especially large sporting events such as the World Cup and the Olympics and the Paralympic Games and other sports championships, he added stressing that major sporting events have proved to be the driving tools to accelerate economic development, develop awareness and promote values of respect and social integration. He underlined the need for organizing these events, with a spirit of peace, mutual understanding and friendship.

HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani noted that Qatar is the host for the 2022 FIFA World Cup, for the first time in the region and will also host another important sporting event, that is the 2019 World Championships in Athletics.

HE Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs concluded his speech saying: "We look forward to seeing all of you in Doha, and to welcome you to our genuine Arab hospitality during the FIFA World Cup 2022 and other major sporting events in the coming years."