Reinforcing its commitment to creativity, innovation, the arts and culture across physical and digital spaces, Qatar Creates (QC) announces its sponsorship of the first digital art collection inspired by FIFA World Cup play. Issued by We Never Walk Alone Football Nation (WNWA-FN) in conjunction with the cultural programme curated for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, the NFT collection will be launched via Web3 on 16 December.
The NFTs in the collection will be only authorized digital replicas of the jersey worn by Argentine great Diego Maradona when he scored “the goal of the century” during the 1986 FIFA World Cup. The jersey itself is now a part of the permanent collection of the 3-2-1 Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum and was the world’s most expensive piece of sports memorabilia at the time of its purchase at auction.
Qatar Creates’ investment in this digital art collection marks the first initiative of its kind in Qatar, paving the way for future digital art projects from the nation’s burgeoning creative industries.
Each NFT certifies Founding Member status in the digital community of the We Never Walk Alone Football Nation. The 2494 NFTs that are issued will evolve, eventually revealing a country (one of the 32 nations competing in the World Cup Qatar 2022), a jersey number (representing a player on that country’s team) and a tier (Blue, Silver, Gold). Holders of the NFTs representing the top four teams in the World Cup Qatar 2022 or the tournament’s four top players will qualify to win prizes.
Lauding this effort, the visionary behind Qatar Creates, Her Excellency Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, stated: “Art and culture tell the stories of our collective history, identity and dreams, and more than ever people are sharing these layers of themselves in the digital realm. This digital collection will encourage creative dialogue, community building, and cultural engagement that can help inspire a new generation of creatives and collectors within our region and beyond.”
Vishwa Naik, We Never Walk Alone Football Nation Project Manager commented: “This collection celebrates art, technology, the football culture, and the spirit of sportsmanship. We are thankful for this sponsorship from Qatar Creates on this progressive project on the occasion of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.”
In support of the cultural programme taking place during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Qatar Creates has developed One Pass as a gateway to arts and culture for all residents and visitors. One Pass offers access to more than 300 events and experiences including art and cultural exhibitions, museums, live events, festivals, theatre, and musicals throughout November and December 2022.
For more information on Qatar Creates’ new digital arts collection, please visit https://www.wnwa.io/
