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bq | SPORTS I QATAR HANDBALL
QATAR
COURTING QATAR Hosting mega sporting events, like the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship, ensures that several organisations, large or otherwise, come together to create new economic opportunities and benefits for the country By Shereen D’Souza, Doha
As preparations are underway for the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship which will take place in Doha from 15 January to 1 February 2015, the Qatar 2015 Organising Committee is determined to make this event an impressive one. Dr Thani Abdulrahman Al Kuwari, director general of the Qatar 2015 Organising Committee tells bq, “We aim to create awareness of the sport of handball and increase the global profile of sport. That’s why we’re working with Qatar’s leading businesses to put on one of the most impressive editions of the Men’s Handball World Championship in the event’s history.” 24 national teams from around the world will compete for the coveted title. Qatar and Spain automatically qualify, being hosts and world champions in that order, leaving 22 slots available for the best teams. A mega sporting event taking place in the country is key not only to diversifying the economy from its hydrocarbon revenues, but also in boosting several small and medium enterprises as they all come together along with large organisations, to ensure that the event runs smoothly. This ensures several businesses are involved and progressing as an event is conducted and completed. “Mega events such as the championship bring with it an opportunity to create sustainable business models that stand to benefit the local community the most. The influx of visitors brings more economic benefits to the country and in turn creates a platform for larger success in the future,” says Dr Al Kuwari. www.bqdoha.com
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bq | SPORTS I QATAR HANDBALL
The hospitality sector for one, benefits hugely from any such event taking place. International visitors and fans will visit, seeking a host of accommodation and entertainment options during their stay. Dr Al Kuwari adds, “We have tied up with Qatar’s national carrier, Qatar Airways to facilitate a seamless travel and handball experience for overseas travelers. The travel packages have been met with enthusiasm as they provide a single payment option for air tickets, accommodation and tickets to the championship event.” The committee is also working with several retail ventures to bring a host of concessional stands at the stadiums during the tournament exhibiting a wide variety of food, snacks and much more. According to the Qatar 2015 Organising Committee, sponsorships and partnerships are about much more than just fund raising. It is on-ground support that enhances visitor experiences at the event. The committee claims to have an impressive line-up of prestige, official, business and IHF partners. Prestige partners include QNB, Qatar Petroleum, Maersk Oil and Ooredoo and official partners include many companies in different fields like aviation, oil and gas, manufacturers and so on. “In return for their support, all our partners receive branding, merchandising and advertising rights as applicable across the various partner categories. Given the nature of the event and its broadcast around the world, all of our partners will also benefit from brand exposure to an international audience,” the committee tells bq. Sustainable stadia The venues built for the event have been well thought of, using sustainable technologies and will hence double up as venues for future sporting events. The Duhail Handball Sports Hall, a sustainable green building, has been designed and developed to be the world’s first handball education centre and will become a training hub for the sport in the country. The Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena in Al Sadd can house up to 7,700 spectators in the main hall and can also be used for volleyball, badminton and gymnastics. The venue can also be transformed into an ice rink within 48 hours and can be used for ice hockey tournaments. Similarly, the Lusail Multipurpose Hall can also be used for basketball and volleyball, and, it’s transformation into
an entertainment space is also being considered for its use in the future according to Dr Al Kuwari. The Lusail stadium was initially expected to house around 18,000 spectators. The committee however, decided to prioritise on viewer comfort, and hence opted for more spacious seats making it one of the most spectator-friendly venues in the world, accommodating over 15,000 spectators. The Duhail Handball Sports Hall is already complete and fully functional as was demonstrated during the recent IHF Super Globe Championship 2014. The Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena in Al Sadd is complete and the Lusail Multipurpose Hall is also nearing completion and will be tested with the 17th Asian Club League Championship. “These test events are extremely important to us as they give us an opportunity to firm up the logistics involved and also ensure that all plans for safety and security are place for the athletes, as well as the spectators,” says Dr Al Kuwari. All three venues of the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship are designed and built in compliance with the guidelines provided by the International Handball Federation. In addition, they use sustainable green technology specifically for the cooling and ventilation that will help to minimise the carbon footprint and environmental impact when the stadiums are in use. The championship has been held in the Middle East for the second time and in Qatar for the first time, after Egypt in 1999. Although the committee didn’t reveal exact figures, the response to the event (especially to the travel packages) has been phenomenal, according to them. “We have seen additional ticket sales on our newly launched online ticketing portal. We are expecting the demand for tickets to go up further closer to the dates of the tournament and will meet this with the launch of ticket booths across malls and universities in Qatar,” says Dr Al Kuwari. Tickets for the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship will also be available at Ticket Box Offices that will be operational at each of the venues. The money raised from ticket sales will go to the Educate a Child programme to help raise money for education worldwide. Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena in Al Sadd Main Hall Capacity: 7,700 spectators Total footprint: 16,000 square metres and a built up area of 54,000 square metres Features: One main and two training grounds Other uses: Handball, volleyball, badminton and gymnastics ground, Designed to be transformed into an ice hockey ring which fulfills the standards of the IHF Post event use: Main hall of Al Sadd Club Lusail Multipurpose Hall Main Hall Capacity: 15,300 spectators Total footprint: 45,000 square metres and a built up area of 130,000 metres Features: One main and two training halls following the standards and the recommendations of the IHF Other uses: Handball, volleyball and basketball hall Post event use: Studies are currently being undertaken to explore its transformation into a space dedicated for other entertainment activities, usable 365 days Duhail Handball Sports Hall Main Hall Capacity: 5,500 spectators including presidential & exclusive seats adequately cooled & ventilated through displacement system Total footprint: Total built-up area of approximately 40,000 square metres. Constructed on a 30,000 square metre land area of softscaping, water features, parking spaces and paved walkways Features: Main arena, designed in compliance with IHF requirements, two training halls, 60-bedroom players’ accommodation, restaurant and lounges, QHA administration and media offices, presidential & exclusive lounges, medical centre, gymnasium, swimming pool and grandstands Other uses: Mainly intended for handball court Post event use: It will accommodate the Qatar Handball Association headquarters and serve as the home ground and the main training base for all Qatar’s National Handball Teams
JANUARY 2015