For the people of the Persian Gulf, Ghanim Al Muftah is a familiar face. The 22-year-old activist, born without legs, became a real sensation at the opening of the World Cup in Qatar. At Sunday’s ceremony, he shared the stage with Hollywood legend Morgan Freeman.
The young Qatari recited a verse from the Koran, welcoming the world to the show of unity and tolerance.
“Everyone is welcome! This is an invitation to the whole world,” Al Muftah said.
“We are brought up to believe that we are scattered across this earth as peoples and tribes so that we can learn from each other and find the beauty in our differences,” he continued.
Ghanim was born with a rare condition known as Caudal Regression Syndrome, which is characterized by the lower part of the spine not being fully formed.
In his profiles, the man documents the challenges he faces on a daily basis, becoming a guru for many. On TikTok, he is a real sensation with his more than 7 million followers, and on Instagram their number is 3.4 million.
The Qatari is currently studying political science at university and hopes to become a diplomat one day. Ghanim also likes extreme sports such as diving, skateboarding and rock climbing and dreams of becoming a Paralympian, Nova reported.
In April, Al Muftah was announced as an ambassador for the FIFA World Cup.
