Interview | Hassan Al Thawadi
of a curving roof, which will assist in keeping the stadium cool. We are an ambitious nation and
pride ourselves on maintaining the highest standards in everything we do. In order to succeed, we need the best partners. And hence why we visited the UK recently to meet with British businesses and senior officials involved in the organisation of London 2012, where they could explain how they could support the delivery of infrastructure and pass on lessons learnt from the success of London 2012. The mission was an important step in learning about the construction of world-class stadiums. We met a lot of companies who were involved in the delivery of the London 2012 Olympics and looked at how London benefitted in terms of tourism. British expertise and the
experience of organising the 2012 Olympics mean the UK is well-placed to support Qatar in delivering the first World Cup in the Middle East.
British business is synonymous with two qualities we consider of the utmost importance in a partner - innovation and integrity. Qatar is on an important journey. We are putting the building blocks in place for the future of our country. We are aware that natural reserves will not last forever. The Qatar National Vision 2030 envisages transforming Qatar to a ‘knowledge-based’ economy, less reliant on hydrocarbons. The 2022 FIFA World Cup can be a catalyst toward this aim of diversification. Statistics suggested that 70% of the Olympic Delivery Authority’s contractors were SMEs and 72% of LOCOG’s UK resident contracts were won by SMEs. We hope to tap into that expertise which played such a major role in 2012’s operational success. It goes without saying that we are looking for partners who will provide the highest quality technical expertise and client service. We want to work with partners that will have vested interests in the future of Qatar. Partners that will collaborate with us in research and development, innovation, and in creating sustainable solutions in the long- term. SME partners that will engage
The Khalifa International
Stadium and 300 m tall Aspire Tower
in joint ventures with local and regional counterparts to deliver quality products and service and play an important role in developing the SME sector through best practice and transfer of knowledge. For Qatar, the United Kingdom is a reliable long-term partner in a climate where international markets are still battling to overcome economic turbulence and instability. In short, the relationship between our nations – on all levels - continues to go from strength to strength. It is my hope today that through the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ we can create a foundation for enhancing the already strong commercial ties that bind the United Kingdom and Qatar.
Qatar has a reputation for ambition and far-sighted projects - how do you see the legacy of the 2022 FIFA World
Cup Qatar™? As you can no doubt understand, the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™ isn’t just thirty days of football for Qatar. This is building a nation. Creating a hub of innovation. Investing in our future. Leaving a legacy for our children. Investing in our future. Changing the international perceptions of the Arab World.
As I have mentioned here, legacy, innovation and sustainability are always at the forefront of our thinking.
From our pledge to share the know-how behind our second- generation cooling systems with countries that experience similar
138 GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY 2014 | ISSUE 01
summer climates to our own, we will be able to democratise mega-event hosting. This will leave a legacy of opportunity for nations and parts of the world that previously would not have been able to host such events due to climate concerns. As mentioned, several of our
planned stadiums will have modular components that will be disassembled following the tournament and donated to developing nations that require sporting infrastructure. This will simultaneously create a genuine development legacy for FIFA and the football community, while also ensuring that Qatar is left with stadiums suitably sized for its needs. The investments being made
today will prove crucial to the success of the 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar™, but also will pay dividends to inspire and incentivise generations to come. The youth of Qatar, and of the region, are excited about the opportunities that the commitment to and the development of sport have created. It is up to us to ensure that the correct foundations are laid so that these opportunities for growth through sport are developed and utilised properly and that the benefits extend to the young population of our region. Those of you who have done business in Qatar will know that we prefer to build lasting relationships and that those who commit to the long-term and understand our vision will reap the rewards.
GO
global-opportunity.co.uk
INTERVIEW
|
HASSAN AL THAWADI
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