NATO to assist Qatar in security measures for 2022 FIFA World Cup

By Emre Asikci

ISTANBUL (AA) - NATO on Thursday confirmed that it would provide security support to Qatar during the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

"The support will include training against threats posed by Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) materials, which will be delivered by Slovakia and NATO's Joint CBRN Defence Centre of Excellence in the Czech Republic," the alliance said in a statement.

"A first training session dealing with Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear threats was conducted this past May in Slovakia," it added.

The statement also noted that Romania would provide training for the protection of "very important people" -- VIPs -- and for countering threats posed by improvised explosive devices.

The 22nd edition of the international football showpiece event, which is the first-ever winter World Cup, is scheduled from Nov. 21 to Dec. 18 with 32 teams in eight groups.