The iconic Al Janoub Stadium was awarded a gold standard Global Sustainability Assessment System (GSAS) certification for operational performance by the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development (GORD) – making it the first FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ stadium to be awarded all three GSAS certifications. The stadium previously received certifications for sustainable design and green construction practices.

Al Janoub Stadium
Al Janoub Stadium

To commemorate the achievement, representatives from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC), FIFA, GORD and Mosanada Facilities Management Services were invited to take part in an award ceremony.

SC Deputy Director General for Technical Services Engineer Ghanim Al Kuwari said that while they are reaching new sustainability benchmarks for stadium design and construction, they are also developing the skills, abilities, processes and resources in facility management and building operations sector in Qatar to ensure that their venues are as sustainable as can be.

He said that they hold detailed training sessions throughout the certification process to ensure they achieve the best possible outcome for the building and for their team working there who operate the venue on an ongoing basis.

According to SC Sustainability Director Engineer Bodour Al Meer, the certification is evidence of their efforts to deliver on the commitments of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ Sustainability Strategy.

We are proud to be the first FIFA World Cup host country that is conducting these detailed assessments of our stadiums’ operations.

Follow up to assessments

The operations certification scheme serves as a follow up to assessments made during the design and construction stages. It assesses actual energy and water consumption in the stadium, waste management practices, indoor air quality, satisfaction of building users, as well as facility management practices in place.

GORD Founding Chairman Dr Yousef Alhorr said that the Al Janoub Stadium is the first-ever project to achieve all three certifications with such high ratings – a four-star certification for design and build, an A* certification for construction management, and now a gold one for operations.

The project has gone through due diligence all the way from preparation and design through to the construction and post-occupancy phase. This would not have been possible without the keen interest and commitment of the SC and FIFA. Dr Alhorr said that by integrating sustainability with sports, they have created awareness at the grassroots level.

GORD is proud to be part of this iconic project. Together, we are aiming to build a community that will champion sustainable practices in building operations and facility management.

FIFA Head of Sustainability and Environment Federico Addiechi said that obtaining a green building certification for the operations of the stadiums was a voluntary move by Qatar, which he said they embraced from the very beginning.

We believe that this is not only a great standard to be applied across all Qatar 2022 stadiums, but also for other stadiums in future FIFA World Cups.

SC has already certified its headquarters, Al Bidda Tower, with GSAS Operations certifications, and is in the process of conducting the same assessment for other FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ stadiums.


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