Last month, a delegation from the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) took part in the Sports Expo exhibition and conference in Cairo, Egypt. During the event, the SC’s Chief Tournament Experience Officer, Khaled Al Mawlawi, spoke about Qatar's experience in hosting mega-sporting events, namely the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.

Al Mawlawi headed an SC delegation that included the SC’s Events Director, Khalad Al Hamar, as well as the SC’s Local and Regional Media Manager, Mohammed Al Khanji.

The SC delegation took part in a session entitled, ‘Preparing countries to host mega sports events’, where they discussed ways in which events such as the FIFA World Cup™ play a role in nurturing social and economic growth. The panel featured representatives from Spain’s LaLiga, IRONMAN and Loughborough University.

Al Mawlawi shed light on Qatar’s 13-year journey towards organising last year’s historic tournament, while showcasing some key facts and figures related to the infrastructure that was built for the event. This included eight state-of-the-art stadiums, 40 training grounds, accommodation facilities, as well as a modern transportation and communications network.

The discussion was particularly relevant to sports authorities in Egypt, who are considering a bid to host a future FIFA World Cup, as well as the 2036 Summer Olympic Games.

Al Mawlawi stressed that Qatar’s goal in hosting the World Cup went beyond the tournament itself and that it was utilised to promote the State of Qatar and create investment opportunities for the country.

He added: "We were honoured to host the best version of the world’s largest sporting event, and from the very beginning, we used the event as an incentive to accelerate the pace of development of Qatar, to make strides towards the country’s national vision. The tournament has seen the completion of major infrastructure projects ahead of schedule, most notably the Doha Metro.

“Qatar 2022 was a tremendous economic driver for the country – one that aligned with the country’s commitment to building human capital and a sustainable future. The tournament was a catalyst for small businesses and created job opportunities for young people. Most importantly, it sent a strong message that the Arab world has both the skills and resources to organise major sporting events.”