Batistuta and de Boer back Qatar 2022 02/12/2009 |
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Former World Cup stars Gabriel Batistuta and Ronald de Boer are the latest big names to sign up as ambassadors for Qatar’s bid to host the 2022 tournament.
Batistuta is Argentina’s all-time leading goalscorer and represented his country at three World Cup finals, while de Boer played in two World Cups for Holland and won the UEFA Champions League for Ajax. Both players also played for clubs in Qatar.
Commenting on his appointment, Batistuta said: “It is a great pleasure for me to take on this important role as bid ambassador for the Qatar 2022 bid, which I believe represents an essential expansion of the Fifa ideals to a new part of the world.
“Having played in USA 1994, France 1998 and Korea and Japan 2002 – the first World Cup on the Asian continent – I have witnessed the excitement and passion unleashed in those different parts of the world.
“From my playing experience in Qatar, I know that it is a country and a region which will host a spectacular and passionate World Cup in 2022. This is an exciting new football market waiting to be uncovered.”
De Boer added: “I truly believe it is time for the World Cup to come to the Middle East for the first time ever, so I am thrilled to be asked to become an ambassador for this campaign.
“I believe this is a historic opportunity for the country where I played four years of my professional career and the rest of the world to unite in a peaceful and family orientated celebration of football.
“Qatar has all the qualities to host a fantastic and unforgettable World Cup. The country has the outstanding sporting facilities needed to host the world’s greatest football tournament, the region-wide passion for the game, and it brings to the mix an exceptionally hospitable nature which has made me decide to stay on in Qatar even after my playing career finished.”
The appointments follow the announcement last week that legendary Saudi Arabia striker Sami Al Jaber is also backing the bid.
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