IAAF DOHA 2019 & THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP.
Just How Ready Is Qatar?
We recently witnessed another first from Qatar when it successfully hosted the IAAF World Athletics Championship - Doha 2019. It became the first country in the Middle East to host this sporting event. Praise from journalists and acclaim from international bodies confirm that Qatar is more than capable of organizing and hosting major international events. In a way, this can be seen as a form of a test run in regards to the preparations to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
For example, look at the Khalifa International Stadium, one of the venues for the World Cup matches, with a seating capacity of 40,000. The stadium was built in 1976 and reopened in May 2017 after three years of renovations and expansions. It has served as the venue for notable football matches and events in both past and fairly recent times.
Gulf countries can and often get really hot. Qatar is no exception. Personally, I’ve experienced 49°C heat, but it gets even higher. Humidity? Let’s not even go there.
Needless to say, such conditions are neither advisable nor conducive for rigorous outdoor activities. Though the day temperatures during the event didn’t get to 40°C, it was still considerably hot, especially to most visitors and athletes who weren’t acclimatized. However, the stadium’s cooling technology ensured a cool and controlled temperature within the structure. Also, the stadium’s infrastructure is built to provide the best possible experience for both athletes and spectators. From the track and pitch, to LED lighting and digital floodlights, seating areas, shops and restaurants.
As with any major event, things tend to get hectic, but owing to ample parking, designated pick-up and drop-off areas, metro and bus services, and with help from traffic control personnel, access to and from the venues won’t be as chaotic.
The Supreme Council for Delivery & Legacy and the Local Organizing Committee went above and beyond, as was evident with the success of the event. They are the key players in the World Cup preparations, and this event showcased their capabilities and stellar performance. Qatar is in good hands.
Which brings me to security. Owing to the coordination between the Traffic Police, Al Fazaa, Lekhwiya and other relevant personnel, security was upheld throughout the entirety of the event. Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Committee, Brigadier General Abdulaziz bin Faisal Al-Thani, stated that the committee tested the security technologies and systems which will be applied in securing the 2022 World Cup.
In regards to the hospitality sector, Qatar has proven that it can host athletes, delegates, media and fans. That being said, an expected 1.5 million people are a LOT of people to host, more so in that given time, so I’m really excited to see how Qatar will pull that off.
As we look forward to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, let us remind ourselves of this: We defy odds. We set records. We accomplish the impossible.
This is Qatar. Expect nothing less.
(Originally written in October 2019)
