Qatar wants people to know that there is more to the country than
football – even though the month-long FIFA World Cup starts in Doha on
20 November 2022.
The
Qataris have flown in their World Cup ambassador David Beckham to
promote the country’s tourism assets. Beckham has had links with the
Qataris since he played for Qatar Tourism-sponsored Paris St-Germain in
France.
Now co-owner of a soccer club in Miami, and the inspiration for the
movie Bend It Like Beckham, the former Manchester United and England
soccer great spent 48 hours exploring Qatar on a motor bike.
Along the way he met pearl divers, toured spice markets, camped in the desert and learned about the art world in Doha.
Qatar is keen to promote itself as a stopover destination by
capturing some of the enormous transit traffic carried through Doha by
Qatar Airways.
“The people of Qatar are really passionate about their culture and
the mix of modern and traditional creates something really special,"
Beckham says in the promotional video clip.
Beckham has been assured soccer fans will be safe during the World
Cup and will be allowed to display rainbow flags in stadiums — the
symbol of the LGBTQ community.