Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Sustainable Legacy

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Sustainable Legacy 1
QATAR 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP SUSTAINABLE LEGACY
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Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Sustainable Legacy 2
Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Sustainable Legacy
Introduction
Big international sporting events such as Olympic and Paralympic Games and the FIFA
World Cup presents a great opportunity for hosting nations to showcase their engineering
innovation, creativity and technologies used in building the stadia and other infrastructure
necessary for the event. The events usually leave a long lasting legacy in relation to sustainable
construction. As Qatar prepares to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, it has the greatest opportunity
to create a sustainable construction legacy and inspire the whole world in terms of creating
sustainable infrastructure. There is a lot to be learnt from the legacy left by the London 2012
Olympics. The country will spend approximately $100 billion to build infrastructure for hosting
the event (We Build Value, 2018). After the world cup, the stadia and infrastructure will be used
differently to promote sustainability in the construction industry. Innovation and venue
adaptability are some of the major elements that will be used to demonstrate sustainable
construction across the Gulf States after the 2022 FIFA World cup.
Similar use after the event
Most of the stadiums and infrastructure built for the event will be used for the same or
similar purposes with some modifications after the event. Majority of stadiums will be used for
hosting events such as sports, national functions, social functions, political rallies, etc. Some of
the stadiums will be reused to create new sporting facilities while others will be used by the local
communities as parks. Other surrounding sustainable infrastructure such as hotels, restaurants
and residential buildings will be used for the same purpose. Transport systems, including rail,
metro and light rail systems, will be used to facilitate easy, fast and safe movement of people and

Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Sustainable Legacy 3
goods in the region and reduce carbon footprint. In the process all, users will continue benefiting
and learning from their sustainable features and benefits.
Promote use of renewable energy
Qatar lies in a hot desert geography and this will put a lot of pressure on energy
resources. However, the hot climate provides an opportunity to harness solar energy and create a
cool micro-climate during the event. Air conditioning systems in all the stadia to be used for the
event will be carbon neutral and powered by solar energy (The Peninsula Qatar, 2018). After the
event, these stadia will be used as learning centres to demonstrate how micro-climates can be
created in different parts of the world using renewable and natural resources. Instead of burning
fossil fuels to power air conditioning systems in buildings and stadiums, renewable energy can
be used to drive the mechanical systems used for creating the desired thermal comfort and indoor
environments (Sofotasiou, et al., 2015). Even though Qatar is rich in fossil fuels, it will
demonstrate how alternative or renewable energy can be used to power energy-intensive cooling
systems/technologies thus promoting sustainable construction.
Modular construction lessons
After the event, the temporary modular upper-tier sections of Al-Khor and Al-Wakrah
stadiums will be disassembled and instead of being disposed as wastes to landfills, they will be
donated to less developed countries that do not have stadium infrastructure (Hayajneh, 2017).
Ras Abu Aboud Stadium is also being constructed using modified shipping containers that will
be dismantled and repurposed or transferred to a new location where they can be used to make
smaller cultural and sports venues (Spaen, 2017). Use of modular construction is an innovative
and sustainable approach that will inspire stadium architects and developers all over the world. It