World football global governing body, FIFA and Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy have launched a sustainability strategy for the country’s hosting of the World Cup in 2022.
Mindful that the hosting of a major tournament such as a World Cup can have a wide range of impacts on the natural environment and also the country’s communities, FIFA and the Supreme Committee began to develop and implement the strategy five years ago in order to help eliminate negative effects and to prepare for future events.
With the FIFA World Cup to be held in a Muslim nation for the first time in less than three years’, the manifesto for sustainability acknowledges that Qatar presents common and unique challenges, as well as unparalleled opportunities to leave a lasting positive legacy beyond the event.
FIFA has now defined the five sustainability commitments that will deliver the shared vision. They are: to develop human capital and safeguard workers’ rights; to provide an inclusive tournament experience; to catalyse economic development; to deliver innovative environmental solutions; and to set an example of good governance and ethical business practices.
A total of 22 objectives have been outlined, along with more than 70 concrete initiatives and programs that will seek to deliver the strategy and achieve the objectives set.
FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura commented “the FIFA World Cup offers us a unique opportunity to bring about positive change - one that FIFA and Qatar cannot, and will not, let slip away. All critical topics related to the event have been identified and duly addressed in this strategy, such as workers’ welfare, human rights, non-discrimination and environmental protection.
“The document is also in line with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, and we are committed to contributing to those through the power of football and of the biggest single-sport event on the planet.”
Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee and Qatar 2022 Chairman, added “when Qatar bid to host the FIFA World Cup 2022, it did so with a vision to use the tournament as a catalyst for sustainable, long-term change in Qatar and across the Arab world.
“From the start, we believed in the power of football and the FIFA World Cup to inspire innovation, to build bridges between cultures and peoples and to accelerate positive social transformation. Our measure of success for the tournament in Qatar will ultimately be the legacy it leaves behind. This strategy will help Qatar to realise that vision and ensure its success.”
The Sustainability Strategy - the first to be planned and delivered jointly by FIFA, the host country and the local organisers - applies to all functional areas and projects involved in the preparations for and staging of the tournament, in addition to post-event activities.
In a first for a major sporting event, the development process for the strategy included a full human rights salience assessment.
Over 100 national and international governmental, non-governmental and private-sector organisations were consulted when drawing up the issues and initiatives that form the framework.
Click here to read the full FIFA Sustainability Strategy.
Main images shows construction of Qatar's Al Wakrah stadium.
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Nigel Benton
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Nigel Benton is the co-founder and Publisher of Australasian Leisure Management, Australia and New Zealand’s only magazine for professionals in all areas of the leisure industry. Having established the magazine in 1997, shortly after his relocation to Australia, he has managed its readership rising to over 11,500 and its acceptance as the industry journal for professionals in aquatics, attractions, entertainment, events, fitness, parks, recreation, sport, tourism and venues.
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