FROM LEFT: SC’s Official Spokesperson, Khaled Al Nama; Sustainability Executive Director at the SC, Eng. Bodour Al Meer; Director of the Volunteer Strategy Department at SC Nasser Al Mogaiseeb and Moderator Maryam Al Mohannadi during the fifth discussion session.
Doha: The Ministry of Education and Higher Education yesterday held the fifth discussion session of the ‘Illuminations’ initiative, entitled ‘The World Cup legacy’, which highlighted the lessons learned from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 hosting.
Moderated by General Supervisor of the ‘Illuminations’ initiative, Maryam Al Mohannadi, the session discussed the World Cup’s impressive success, which transformed the concepts of volunteerism and sustainability into a tangible reality that stunned the world.
Addressing the session held under the slogan ‘We Dialogue.. We Enlighten.. We Rise’, Official Spokesperson for the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), Khaled Al Nama highlighted Qatar’s success in overcoming the huge challenges related to the mega-event hosting.
He said that the tournament will have a positive impact on society, leave a sustainable legacy, and enhance many aspects, particularly its contributions to the positive change in the country.
Al Nama said that the tournament discovered many young leaders who contributed to the awe-struck World Cup and presented Qatar as an ideal model for organizing an exceptional edition.
He said that Qatar earned the respect of the world by formulating success criteria while preserving its identity and customs and fulfilling its promises.
The SC is currently cooperating with the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum to document all World Cup scenes and events to allow the next generation to learn about this inedible trip.
Sustainability Executive Director at the SC, Eng. Bodour Al Meer said that the World Cup hosting faced many challenges, which the SC was able to deal with by finding solutions that would benefit future generations, as sustainability and legacy were among the priorities in organising the tournament.
She stressed that Qatar was able to reach the most sustainable championship, and translated this into reality in partnership with FIFA, where about 70 projects were implemented to keep pace with sustainable development, and succeeded in setting new standards that will change the way of thinking and planning for major sports tournaments and the way they are organised in the future.
To ensure sustainability, the World Cup stadiums were established in strategic locations to serve the local community after the tournament, taking into account issues of climate change and waste recycling, Al Meer said.
She said that over 80 percent of waste and materials resulting from construction operations were recycled, and this percentage amounted to 90 percent in some stadiums.
Al Meer said that there will be a big Qatar National Library pavilion that will document all the World Cup-related sustainability achievements, Al Meer said.
Director of the Volunteer Strategy Department at SC Nasser Al Mogaiseeb said that the World Cup helped develop a culture of volunteer work, which is a very important factor in building a society.
Al Mogaiseeb said that the SC volunteering strategy was launched in 2018, attracting more than 20,000 volunteers, the largest record for a World Cup edition, adding that no effort was spared in providing volunteers with all the necessary skills and training.
He noted that SC has developed the national volunteering strategy in partnership with Qatar22, which focused on several aspects, such as developing legislative laws for volunteering in Qatar, setting a national volunteer day, and encouraging more people to volunteer and take part in the best volunteer experience during the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022.
