Scoring Lifestyle Medicine Goals With FIFA 2022—An Opportunity to Strike Big!

Abstract

Qatar is one of the few countries in the world with a dedicated national sports day. Qatar believes that sport is one of the best tools to promote a healthy lifestyle to help curb the growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). With the well-established positive health effects of soccer on cardiovascular, metabolic, and musculoskeletal conditions, the vision of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ hosted by Qatar to use the power of soccer to “open the door of an amazing world experience” is praiseworthy. With NCDs accounting for 70% of deaths in Qatar, there exists a perfect opportunity to promote healthy lifestyles to prevent, treat, and reverse NCDs. We believe that the FIFA World Cup 2022™ presents an opportunity that could contribute to generating valuable evidence on the lifestyle benefits of such large-scale events. This event comes at an opportune moment for countries in the region to make their health systems lifestyle-sensitive. FIFA World Cup 2022™ could just be the tipping point in the region that establishes the role of sports in mitigating the burden of NCDs. With the impact of COVID-19 on persons with pre-existing NCDs, the urgency for addressing the “syndemic” cannot be overemphasized and sport can be the lifestyle medicine.

Physical Activity and Its Barriers and Facilitators among University Students in Qatar: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Despite a dominant car-centric culture in Qatar, substantial national efforts have been made to enhance PA levels in the country. Worldwide, Qatar is one of the few countries with a dedicated national sports day [ 31 ]. In recent years, many recreational resources such as green parks, biking and walking trails, outdoor fitness machines, and open spaces have been made accessible free of charge.…”

Making FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Truly Healthy and Safe: Strategies and Legacy for Present and Future Sporting Events

“…The event is meant to leverage football's global power and influence to ignite, catalyze, and probably cement the aspiration for a healthy and active lifestyle, disease prevention, and a safer world in the hearts and minds of every global football enthusiast [6]. Ultimately, the global mega sporting event is meant to support the actualization of certain global public health and developmental initiatives, such as the WHO's strategic vision of "Health for All by All," by 2023, the UN's Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, and the Generation Amazing program [3,5].…”

“…Some of such strategies includethe delivery of health awareness and education messages and initiatives via different media on the need to increase the consumption of healthy diets, increase engagement in physical activity, promote mental health; stop the use of tobacco products; promote health security, and safe mass gathering by ensuring strict compliance with health and safety standards at all official and non-official sites; regular conduction of health and safety inspection and audit; routine health screening for the stakeholders; and encourage workplace health promotion initiatives for the event workers. These are meant to be commenced right from the FIFA Arab Cup Qatar 2021, all through the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and beyond, impacting the present and future generations [3,[5][6][7]9].…”

“…This, the nation has demonstrated through different innovative programs and initiatives, such as the National Sports Day, the National Nutrition and Physical Activity plan, etc. [3]. Through these noble programs and initiatives, Qatar has been able to set standards and roadmaps for achieving adequate physical activity and a healthy lifestyle for its approximately 2.8 million citizens and residents [3].…”

“…[3]. Through these noble programs and initiatives, Qatar has been able to set standards and roadmaps for achieving adequate physical activity and a healthy lifestyle for its approximately 2.8 million citizens and residents [3]. The chance to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 came at no better time for Qatar to communicate to the world the potential mutual benefits of sport and health, and by so doing, may bring a positive change and a legacy to the world [4].…”