Chief Business Development Officer at GWC Syed Maaz addressing the forum, yesterday.
Doha: GWC, the official logistics provider of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, is fully prepared and strategically positioned to provide end-to-end and integrated logistics solutions for the successful hosting of the mega sporting event, said a senior official during a forum held yesterday.
GWC organised the forum entitled ‘Getting You in the Game’ which saw a panel of top industry experts who shared insights of logistics and what takes place behind the scenes during mega sporting events and shed light in the preparations for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 which will create a benchmark not only for Qatar but also globally.
Addressing the event, Syed Maaz, Chief Business Development Officer at GWC discussed the necessary planning, coordination and execution needed for the logistics of mega sporting events. “As we know that Qatar is very unique to host the World Cup next year because it is a one-city event which has its own challenges and complexities while it has its benefits, as well as venues, are less than 60km apart. It is going to be the first carbon-neutral World Cup, GWC is prepared and well geared to ensure that this is delivered smoothly,” he said.
He explained that the company will benefit by its previous experience as it was associated with hosting of Doha Asian Games. “We are all geared up to provide you end-to-end, door to door solutions and for over 15 years GWC has the privilege of being in associated with the mega events that have taken place in the country, right from going back in 2006 to Doha Asian Games.”
“We have been continuously engaged with the sporting events that have taken place in the country, be it the swimming championship, cycling, equestrian events, the Club World Cup, the Amir Cup. We have a legacy and have geared up ourselves to be the official logistics provider and to ensure this mandate is delivered smoothly and effortlessly,” he added.
Speaking about GWC’s local footprint and access he said that the company manages close to about 4 million square meters of warehousing space in the country.
“Looking at the geography of Qatar we are well strategically positioned between the industrial areas and the business clusters making it easy for the logistics to happen,” he added.
He noted, in terms of our offering for World Cup next year to make it a successful event we are poised to provide integrated logistics solution with its full range of supply chain services ranging from freight forwarding, customs brokerage, transportation using our extensive fleet, venue services and the reverse logistics.
He added that the company is the number one service provider in the country and caters to more than 3,000 customers locally, regionally and globally. “We are a highly asset driven organization with more than QR4bn asset capitalization, 1500 trucks, trailers which are part of our assets which will cater next year and in the Arab Cup as well,” he said.
Jose Dhooma, Head of Events Logistics at FIFA delivered the keynote speech on ‘Logistics is everywhere’. He said, “There has never been a more apt time to talk about logistics as it is in the forefront. In one year’s time it will be the start of FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the eyes of the world will here watching us which is the biggest single sports event in the world, with viewing audience of 3.6 billion and 1.2 million spectators as for the first time history will be made in the Muslim and Arabic world.”
Speaking about the regional transformation he said, “A big mega event has an impact on the country and when a country delivers a big mega event, it demonstrates to the world that the people there have skills and the ability to deliver to very high level. It also shows that the infrastructure is in place and gives the foreign investors the confidence to invest in that country.”
Meshal Al Shamari, Director at Qatar Green Building Council discussed the legacy of sustainability that the World Cup will leave behind and shared insights into the country’s extensive planning to make sure the 2022 World Cup is carbon neutral and how Qatar will further promote sustainable practices afterwards.
The event included two panel sessions giving insights by experts from sports & events logistics, aviation, and beyond.
