Gabby Logan

The build-up to this year's World Cup is the most unusual I've ever seen as a journalist.

Normally, when I am about to go to these tournaments, I just think about what I am expecting to see on the pitch and get excited about what is always a great festival of football - as I am sure most of you do as well.

This time, that is not the case. We are only a few days away from the first game of the World Cup and the controversy surrounding the regime in Qatar makes me feel uneasy about the whole event.

The location of the World Cup isn't something we can influence. Russia was the last host and there was a lot of angst about it.

Gary Lineker has already said that the BBC will not be supporting the regime there and will instead be reporting on what's happening in the country.

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With that honor comes a responsibility and there are fundamental human rights issues there that we know could be improved.

During the next five weeks, we can shine a light on issues like same-sex relationships, women's rights and the treatment of migrant workers, because we will still be excited about the football.

When you expose those situations, as many great journalists and human rights groups have done in the build-up to this tournament, you hope you draw people's attention to what is happening and what needs to change in parts of the world they might not normally think about.

We need conversations now for change to happen

The World Cup's success is usually determined by how much entertainment is provided, as well as the facilities for fans.

While the World Cup is going on, we will not know that. It will probably take a few years until we find out if basic human rights and workers' rights improve in Qatar, and if all people there have the right to live and work in their own country.

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I want the legacy of this World Cup to be positive things to aim for, and I think most people would agree with that.

We need to have conversations about these topics while the world watches the tournament.

You need to pay attention to them. I found a letter from Fifa telling the 32 teams taking part in the World Cup to "now focus on the football".

People must have the right to express their opinion

I don't think it's a good idea to say that everyone should just respect the rules of the country when they're there.

The most important thing that can happen is that people have the right to say what they want.

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It is a player's right to say that he is against the idea that people from the LGBTQ+ community can't live their lives in this country.

It's not just the players' job to speak out. We have to respect that if some of them just want to concentrate on football.

There will be 832 players at the World Cup, and the idea that all of them will address the discrepancies of human rights is fanciful.

If someone wants to speak, they should be able to.

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We should question where events are held

I joined a group of other women who are working at the World Cup in different stations.

Some of them already work at BeIN Sports, which is based in Qatar, and they have been talking about the fact they feel very safe, as well as giving advice about what we should wear over there.

There are certain dress codes for men in Arabic countries, and the alcohol laws there will affect everyone, but I hope female fans who are travelling to watch the tournament feel like they can behave how they want to.

In the first few days of the World Cup, we will find out what the fans' experience will be like, as well as what the crowd will be like.

The Khalifa International Stadium was almost empty when I came to work on the World athletics Championships in 2019.

Athletes who had worked their entire lives to try to break world records and win gold medals at one of the biggest events in their sport were doing it in front of thousands of empty seats.

It came off the back of London, where every session was sold out, so I didn't think we should ignore that.

Speaking out about it did not go down well with the sport's governing body, or its president, but I would do it again.

When we look back, I think this period of history will throw up a lot of questions about how and where these events are going to happen in the future.

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The consequences of choosing certain hosts

Four years after they won their bid to host the World Cup, the official switch to make it a winter tournament took place in February 2015.

People have talked about how troubled they are by the timing of the tournament, as well as the environmental impact of building lots of new stadiums, hotels and the rest of the infrastructure that was needed.

That hasn't stopped this World Cup from happening now, of course, but it should hopefully make us think more about the merits of spreading these finals and other major sporting events around the world.

The sustainable nature of these events is something that needs to be addressed, and everyone needs to think about the consequences of choosing certain hosts.

There was a conversation with Chris Bevan.