His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Amir of Qatar, presided over the opening ceremony of the 2023 Asian Cup Qatar at Lusail Stadium on Friday evening.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of FIFA’s Swiss President, Gianni Infantino, and the President of the Asian Football Confederation, Sheikh Salman bin Ibrahim Al Khalifa. Also present were senior officials from brotherly and friendly countries, heads of delegations, leaders of Olympic committees, as well as representatives from Arab and foreign federations, along with a large audience.
The ceremony commenced with captivating artistic and cultural performances, featuring live presentations highlighting significant Asian literary legacies. The story chapters drew inspiration from the diverse and rich cultures of the participating countries.
Titled ‘The Missing Chapter of Kalila and Dimna,’ the opening ceremony showcased the cultural similarities found in the vast Asian continent through one of its heritage books.
Throughout the ceremony, various singing and show performances captivated the audience. The responsibility of delivering the championship oath was entrusted to Musab Al-Battat, captain of the Palestine national team, by Hassan Al-Haydos, captain of the Qatar national team.
Palestine’s presence was celebrated through the song “For you, O city of prayer, I pray.” The Palestine national team, placed in Group Four alongside Iran, the UAE, and Hong Kong, begin its campaign against the three-time champion Iran on Sunday.
Present at the event were His Highness Sheikh Jassim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Personal Representative of the Emir, His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Khalifa Al Thani, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Khalifa Al Thani, and His Excellency Sheikh Jassim bin Khalifa Al Thani.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Hassan bin Abdullah Al-Ghanim, Speaker of the Shura Council, various esteemed sheikhs and ministers, and heads of diplomatic missions accredited to the state.
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