The Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) is focused on engaging as many local people as possible as preparations for the FIFA World Cup™ continue to take shape.

The organisation’s Community Engagement Division runs a vast number of projects in order to engage various local groups in the tournament, which is now just 18 months away. Initiatives are dedicated to accessibility, arts and culture, youth, volunteers and education, among others.

Khaled Al Suwaidi, the SC’s Stakeholder Relations Senior Manager, said: “Community Engagement forms an integral part of our journey. Involving all sectors of society as valued partners of the SC is the key to organising a successful World Cup in 2022.”

Here, we take a look at the SC’s Community Engagement outreach.

Accessibility Forum

The Accessibility Forum advises the SC about impairment requirements from the viewpoint of users and experts in disability. Through workshops and stadium visits, people with disabilities evaluate and consult on plans for Qatar 2022 venues and non-tournament facilities. The ultimate objective is for Qatar to deliver the most accessible World Cup in tournament history.

Arts & Culture

The Cultural Experience Programme works alongside the cultural sector, local artists and community groups to enrich the fan experience in 2022. Through cultural shows and activations, it aims to showcase Qatar’s vibrant culture and establish the country as a unique destination for the FIFA World Cup™.

In 2022, visitors will be treated to an array of cultural offerings, including a fringe festival organised by independent artists and cultural groups. This will promote understanding of Qatar’s culture and tradition among fans and visitors.

Community Partnerships Programme & Community Grant Scheme

Launched in 2015, the Community Partnerships Programme aims to provide Qatar’s diverse communities with information about Qatar 2022 and encourage their participation in tournament milestones and other events. The programme trains and builds the skills of community leaders who are encouraged to share their acquired knowledge and expertise with their communities.

As part of the programme, the Community Grant Scheme provides seed funding to support a range of local organisations whose projects improve the quality of life, health and wellbeing of their communities. More than QAR 375,000 has been donated to 38 organisations so far.

Stadium Tours

The Stadium Tours Programme is a new initiative which offers community leaders the exclusive chance to visit Qatar 2022 tournament venues, find out more about ongoing preparations and build excitement and awareness of the World Cup. The programme provides nominated tour guides the necessary on-site training to lead stadium tours and prepares them to play an active role in the delivery and legacy of the tournament.

To-date, more than 50 nominated tour guides representing 31 communities have completed onsite training at Ahmad Bin Ali and Education City stadiums, with 27 languages spoken across those nominated.

The programme is set to officially launch later this year.

Volunteer Programme

The Volunteer Programme invites people from around the world to support the delivery of the FIFA World Cup™ and other events in the lead up to the tournament. Volunteers benefit from workshops and training, and support a range of functions, including event management, hospitality, marketing, communications, audience management, security, medical services and more.

To-date, more than 371,000 people from over 160 countries are currently registered. Previously, volunteers have supported several events, including the Amir Cup, Arabian Gulf Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup™. Recently, SC volunteers supported Qatar Charity’s Jawal Iftar Programme and the Ministry of Public Health’s COVID-19 vaccination campaign.

Tamreen

Designed in partnership with Qatar’s Ministry of Education, Tamreen is an online educational programme that aims to get young people excited about Qatar’s tournament preparations. It provides educators across the world with Qatar 2022-themed toolkits to bring the FIFA World Cup™ into the classroom. The toolkits offer a range of educational resources, including games, videos, quizzes and infographics.

Youth Panel

The Youth Panel was an annual training and development programme that gave students in Qatar aged 14-21 a behind-the-scenes look at tournament preparations. Between 2015 and 2018, the panel reached more than 180 students from 30 different schools. Youth Panel members visited stadiums, enjoyed exclusive access to SC staff and took part in workshops and masterclasses. They were also encouraged to share their learnings with their peers through assemblies, presentations and social media.