From donating seats to the first dismountable stadium in FIFA World Cup history—here’s a look into the Supreme Committee’s sustainability report.

A sustainability report highlighting efforts to achieve a more efficient World Cup that would benefit both the country and wider world has been released by the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy.

Among the key features are reusable stadiums and furniture that allow the dismantlement and reuse of seats that are expected to be donated to countries which lack sporting infrastructure. According to the report, more than 170,000 seats will be donated, maintaining the legacy of Qatar 2022 even after the event.

The Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, which is made primarily from shipping containers, will be completely disassembled after the tournament to make way for a waterfront development that overlooks Qatar’s West Bay, the report adds.

Similarly, some 90% of the old structures from the Al Janoub and Al Rayyan Stadiums – both of which were demolished – were reused to build new facilities. Waste segregation and recycling takes place on-site, while wastewater is recycled from on-site workers’ accommodation for dust control and toilet flushing.

Additionally, Retractable roofs and advanced, energy-efficient cooling technology will help repurpose parts of the stadiums, transforming them into schools, hospitals, retail units and hotels. Some of the stadiums’ areas will be used for running, cycling, and horse-riding tracks among other facilities.

Read also: Qatar to provide 15,000 extra rooms for fans in FIFA World Cup 2022

The report notes some 15 percent of the building supplies were sourced from recycled materials, with local resources being used to help boost Qatar’s economy. Indoor spaces are finished with non-toxic paint, while light-coloured exteriors increase reflectiveness, minimising heat retention and reducing the heating of the urban environment.

Officials praised the report, stating the importance of sustainability, especially in stadiums, which are key to stage successful FIFA World Cups.

“Sustainability has been at the heart of all our tournament preparedness efforts from the day we were awarded the rights to host the world’s largest football tournament, back in 2010,” said Eng. Bodour Al Meer, Sustainability & Environment Senior Manager at the SC.

“In particular, we have always aimed to ensure that the construction and development of our tournament infrastructure leaves a positive legacy for our planet and sets new standards for delivering sustainable, carbon-neutral, mega-sporting events in the future,” said Al Meer.

Unlike built materials, green landscapes provide a cooling effect as they absorb less heat. The surroundings of the stadiums will house 850,000m² of new green space – the equivalent to 121 football pitches – and 16,000 trees have been planted. The landscapes also provide a habitat for native birds, lizards and other fauna.

“The purpose of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ Sustainability Strategy is to maximise the sustainability of the preparation, staging, and post-tournament activities of the FIFA World Cup 2022™ by fulfilling our obligations, managing risks and leveraging opportunities related to people’s rights and wellbeing, economic development and environmental protection,” says the report.

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