The 2022 FIFA World Cup QatarTM is already unique in three ways: it will be the first to be staged in the Middle East, in the smallest geographical area, and in the winter months. Now, hosts Qatar and FIFA have released the event’s first joint Sustainability Strategy.

Qatar was awarded the rights to host the FIFA World CupTM on a momentous day in December 2010. Thereafter, the reality set in – Qatar was going to have to carefully think about how it was going to organise one of the biggest sporting events in the world.

Sustainability has been one of the main aspects of this World Cup, which started at the bid stage and will continue right through to the end of the tournament. The aim is to use the power of football to open up a world of amazing experiences and build a lasting legacy that fits in with both FIFA’s vision and Qatar’s national development goals. 

In 2015, FIFA and the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) began to develop and implement the event’s Sustainability Strategy. This was the first to be planned and delivered jointly by FIFA, SC on behalf of the host country, and the local organisers, FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 LLC (Q22).   

To deliver the shared vision, five sustainability commitments have been defined: 

  • Human Pillar: To develop human capital and safeguard workers’ rights.
  • Social Pillar: To provide an inclusive tournament experience.
  • Economic Pillar: To catalyse economic development.
  • Environment Pillar: To deliver innovative environmental solutions. 
  • Governance Pillar: To set an example of good governance and ethical business practices. 

Further to this, 22 objectives have been described in detail, along with more than 70 initiatives and programmes to deliver the strategy and achieve the objectives set.

These were identified with the help of more than 100 national and international governmental, non-governmental and private-sector organisations, via surveys, workshops meetings and the circulation of drafts, according to SC. Furthermore, the development process for the strategy also included a full human rights salience assessment, a first for a mega-sporting event.

According to HE Hassan Al Thawadi, SC Secretary General and Q22 Chairman, ‘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.’

FIFA Secretary General Fatma Samoura said: ‘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.’ 

The Human Pillar

The report covers workers rights, particularly construction workers, as well as human rights issues related to the actual event, such as freedom of expression for journalists and the avoidance of discrimination.

The report details FIFA human rights commitments and incorporates some of the concerns of the FIFA independent Human Rights Advisory Board. FIFA and SC are committed to safeguarding the rights and welfare of workers, for those engaged in direct projects as well as those along the supply chain, both locally and internationally.

One of these board members is Building and Wood Workers’ International (BWI). The group’s constributions have been recognised by SC, in two main areas: protection of the human rights of migrant workers; and building on the Memorandum of Understanding between SC and BWI in 2016 for joint inspections and worker grievance mechanisms. This mutual cooperation has already led to the success of the Worker Welfare Forums.

Ambet Yuson, BWI General Secretary, commented: ‘The joint sustainability strategy is an important step. The progress made by FIFA and the SC can be witnessed on the ground in the lives of workers. This strategy, in the crucial last stages of construction, represents a determination to complete this process that will leave behind the full respect of the human rights of construction workers and all other workers in Qatar.’

The Social Pillar

Providing an inclusive tournament for all is this pillar’s focus, to ensure it is safe, welcoming and accessible to all participants and attendees. Objectives include:

Delivering an accessible World Cup for disabled people and those with limited mobility, across infrastructure, public transport and other services in Qatar. In 2016, SC established the Accessibility Forum inviting the advice of NGOs, government representatives and disabled people on specific requirements.

  • Promoting cultural exchange among parties engaged with the tournament, to enhance understanding of the culture of Qatar and the region. This can be found in the use of cultural heritage in the design of the stadiums under construction, hosting cultural festivals in the lead-up to 2022, and showcasing Qatar around the world.
  • Enabling a welcoming and respectful environment for all participants and attendees, and promoting the attendance of low-income groups. Qatar wants to welcome all to the tournament, and will take all necessary steps, such as an appropriate ticketing policy and if required, increase the availability of low-cost accommodation.
  • Respecting and protecting the rights of media representatives and human rights advocates. FIFA has a complaints mechanism in place for human rights defenders and media representatives who consider their rights to have been violated while performing work related to FIFA’s activities.
  • Aligning safety and security practices with international standards of human rights protection. In 2012, Qatar entered into a 10-year project with INTERPOL called ‘Project Stadia’ – INTERPOL member countries are assisted in planning and executing policing and security preparations for major sporting events, using best practices and lessons learnt from member countries that have successfully hosted such events.
  • Providing a tobacco-free 2022 FIFA World Cup QatarTM across all sites and associated events. FIFA first introduced a smoking ban in 2002, and in 2017 published its tobacco-free policy for FIFA events. Qatar already prohibits smoking in public spaces. 

The Economic Pillar

Objectives here highlight economic development and growth in Qatar. This will be achieved by enabling local and international businesses to become FIFA suppliers, with a priority for local entities.

The SC has to date entered into agreements with Silatch and the Qatar National Research Fund (QNRF) with the launch of Challenge 22, a regional innovation award, and with a number of national stakeholders in the public and private sector under the Qatar Innovation Community (QIC).

All of the stadiums are being constructed by joint ventures with a minimum of one local company as a member. A contract for 140,000 seats at three of the stadiums has been awarded to Coastal Qatar, a local manufacturing and construction company that will make the seats at their factory in Doha.

One of the key points from Qatar’s successful bid was for the use of modular stadiums. To that end, all of the stadiums under construction are being built using reusable components, which will be removed after the tournament is finished and donated. Some of the stadiums, in their reduced format, will be used by local sports clubs, or the building and surrounding areas will be repurposed as required for community needs – hotels, offices, parks, and even a renewable energy centre and production facility. 

One further objective under this pillar is identifying and delivering suitable temporary solutions for the transportation and accommodation of fans. It was recently announced that Qatar has chartered the use of two cruise ships in an agreement signed with Swiss-based company MSC Cruises, offering 4,000 cabins on these ‘floating hotels’ – just one of many solutions to come.

The Environmental Pillar

According to the report, ‘We are committed to delivering a fully carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup 2022™ and aim to set a benchmark for environmental stewardship by implementing leading sustainable building standards, waste and water management practices and low-emission solutions. Through our work, we will leave a legacy of world-class environmental management expertise, technologies, businesses and standards in Qatar and the region.’

The SC is committed to achieving a minimum four-star GSAS certification for design and build, and construction management; Khalifa International Stadium achieved certification in 2017 and Al Janoub Stadium in 2019. Design specifications for these two stadiums alongside Lusail Stadium were compared to a baseline design and shown to exhibit energy savings of up to 47% and water savings of up to 44% during operation. 

Qatar is looking to increasing its energy efficiency by 10% by 2022 and during the bid stage, committed to hosting a fully carbon-neutral FIFA World Cup™. The SC supported the establishment of the Gulf Carbon Trust (GCT), the first voluntary carbon market in Qatar, while the SC Tree Nursery will facilitate absorption of greenhouse gases. Best-practice air-quality monitoring and control is at all construction sites to suppress dust, reduce movement of construction vehicles, and use modern equipment.

Construction and office waste is being segregated and recycled on all SC construction sites and offices, and waste segregation will be provided at all stadiums. Responsible water management practices are in place and will be extended to the hospitality sector. 

The Governance Pillar

FIFA, SC and Q22 will be ‘setting an example of good governance and ethical business practices at the forthcoming World Cup’.

Objectives include periodic updates of the Sustainability Strategy, stakeholder engagement and communication, and sustainable procurement procedures.

A culture of compliance will focus on risk assessment and management. This will include codes of ethics and conduct policies for all organisations, including anti-bribery and anti-corruption. 

Alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals

Implementation of the Sustainability Strategy is in line with the United Nation’s 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. This was adopted by world leaders in September 2015 and has 17 universal Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), or Global Goals, and 169 targets, which set out a vision for ending poverty, protecting the planet and ensuring that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. 

The Sustainability Strategy for the 2022 FIFA World Cup QatarTM has been aligned with the most relevant SDGs based upon sustainability topics and human rights issues. Overall, 11 SDGs will be achieved.

For more information about the Sustainability Strategy or any other aspect of the
2022 FIFA World Cup QatarTM, visit FIFA.com/sustainability, qatar2022.qa and marhaba.qa.


Author: Sarah Palmer

This article is from Marhaba Information Guide’s Issue No 77 Spring/Summer 2020.

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