DOHA: London 2012 Olympics and Paralympic Games Events Services Chief Andy Young predicted the atmosphere in Doha will be “great” during the Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup™, particularly due to the compact nature of the tournament.

“Not much time will be lost on traveling and this should build a great atmosphere in the city,” said Young.

“I think it’s really important that the World Cup has come to the Middle East for the spectators to experience a different perspective,” Young added, emphasizing that the facilities that the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) is developing will facilitate further national growth in all sectors. “I think it’s important that the identity of Qatar and the region is preserved, this World Cup has to have a distinct flavour.”

Referring to the aftermath of London 2012, where he led the event services team preparing 15,000 volunteers, Young said: “There was a general achievement that the country felt; going into the games people were a little worried, but coming out there was a sense of confidence in the country.”

In this context, he stressed that volunteers are a vital component in the realisation of major events. The LOC for London 2012 coined the term ‘game maker’ to speak of the volunteers, a term which is now being used in other sporting events.

“It’s going to be interesting to see volunteers from the region. At a practical level, it’s useful to have people with experience sharing their knowledge. It’s not just about successes, lots of the value is about talking about what didn’t go well.”

The former Wembley stadium official stressed the importance of holding events outside the stadium to build up the excitement of fans. “That’s why it’s important to think of cultural events and fan zones to add value to the spirit and momentum of the fans.”

With the SC planning for modular components in the majority of its stadiums to be dismantled and used in other countries in need of sporting infrastructure, Young emphasized the importance of legacy planning for major arenas.

“There are examples where countries have spent extensively on facilitates for events that weren’t used afterwards,” he pointed out. “The IOC and FIFA are much more conscious of that now.”

He also spoke of his experience visiting Brazil during the FIFA 2014 World Cup™. “During the Confederations Cup, there was a huge nervousness about what would happen but ultimately the World Cup was a success because of the enthusiasm and the commitment of the Brazilian people. It’s the same with the Olympics, it galvanized the community.”

Young said he felt Qatar would similarly come together during the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ and have a legacy of hosting excellence after the tournament.