Qatar 2022 Becomes First World Cup To Win International Sustainability Certification

Qatar becomes the first FIFA World Cup in history to obtain ISO 20121 certification (Photo: FIFA)

JAKARTA - 2022 World Cup Qatar LLC (Q22) – FIFA's operational arm and Host Country for the organization of the tournament – has achieved ISO 20121 certification, an international standard that establishes the requirements to develop and implement an effective management system to deliver a sustainable event.

The certification was awarded following an extensive audit process that began during the 2021 FIFA Arab Cup Qatar – which was held exactly a year before the first FIFA World Cup in the Middle East and the Arab world.

“Sustainability has been at the heart of Qatar 2022 since its inception, and independent recognition of best practice implementation reflects our enduring commitment to it. Among the many legacies of this tournament, sustainability is an important element of the planning and preparation that the teams focus on at Q22, the Supreme Committee on Delivery & Legacy, and FIFA, and I hope that future tournament organizers will view us as a model for hosting major events, Nasser Al Khater, CEO, Q22, said as quoted from the official FIFA website on Friday.

Meanwhile, José Retana, Senior Sustainability Manager, Q22, said: "We are proud that Qatar is the first FIFA World Cup in history to be certified ISO 20121.

"This shows that according to an evaluation by a third-party accredited entity, world-class management practices are being applied to deliver an inclusive, green and heritage-oriented event," he said.

“Only by embedding sustainability in all of our operations can we deliver a truly successful event that leaves a long-term positive impact on fans, players, workforce, local communities and partners. That's what strong sustainability management does. This certification is a testament to the sustainability efforts of everyone in our organization,” he added.

SGS conducts an extensive audit process. It is a world-leading testing, inspection and certification company with a wealth of experience in certifying organizers of major sporting events against ISO 20121 requirements, including the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the French Open tennis tournament.

The sustainability management mechanisms assessed during the FIFA Arab Cup audit include:

- Accessibility infrastructure and services for fans with disabilities, including seating, mobility assistance, and innovative features such as audio descriptive commentary- Waste minimization and recycling, including staff training, segregation, and awareness-raising activities carried out with the support of sustainability volunteers- Procurement of goods -items required for sustainable delivery of the tournament, including uniforms made from recycled plastic and use of compostable food packaging- Social and environmental audits to ensure supplier compliance with the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Sustainable Source Code- Reporting and resolving incidents over time tournaments, including governance arrangements and collection of lessons

“Fifa World Cup Qatar 2022 has effectively implemented and demonstrated best practices under the Event Sustainability Management System (ISO 20121) framework to manage events successfully. They have met the benchmarks set for global sustainability development and for controlling the social, economic and environmental impacts of the event,” Chris Meakin, General Manager of SGS Qatar, said.

The sustainability management system is a specific management mechanism and approach by which the 2022 World Cup Qatar formulates a sustainability policy, implements sustainability measures, achieves sustainability goals and incorporates sustainability into the entire tournament life cycle.

The shared Qatar 2022 FIFA World Cup Sustainability Strategy is the foundation of the tournament's sustainability management system. A comprehensive set of mechanisms have been put in place to ensure successful delivery in line with stakeholder expectations and strategic objectives. ISO certification covers tournament operations in all official venues and measures the effectiveness of the management system from the planning stage to tournament execution.

The achievement of ISO 20121 has enabled the organizers to successfully achieve the targets set for discussing the topics of transparency and accountability, which were identified as critical issues during the development of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Sustainability Strategy.