HBKU’s College of Science and Engineering (CSE) recently took part at EDSI 2022, the European Decision Sciences Institute annual conference held in Dublin, under the Special Session I and II - Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022^TM. 

Faisal Ahmed Al-Mohannadi, a student in CSE’s Master of Science in Sport and Entertainment Management, jointly presented a paper with Dr. Kamilla Swart, Associate Professor, titled “Sustainable Development in Qatar: A Case Study of the FIFA World Cup 2022 Stadiums”.

Against the background of Qatar’s massive construction development after winning the bid, including vast stadiums, a comprehensive transport system, and Doha city development, the study examines the country’s efforts towards sustainable design in the construction of stadiums, which were developed using the concept of the Circular Economy (CE). 

Examples are the innovative design of Stadium 974 which is made of shipping containers, the use of sustainable power sources for stadium operations, as well as the longer term legacy associated with stadiums. The study will also highlight the potential positive outcomes of Qatar’s sustainable measures.

In the second special session, Dr. Swart presented “Understanding Volunteers’ Motivations and Motives/Intentions to Participate in Mega-Sporting Events: Volunteers and Non-Volunteers” with Yara Ali and Dr. Othman Mohammed O. Al Thawadi from Qatar University. Their research seeks to increase understanding of volunteers’ motivations, satisfaction, skills, and networks acquired and/or developed. The findings will serve to identify opportunities to create a human and social capital legacy. 

Dr. Swart also presented “Understanding Volunteers’ Motivations at the FIFA Arab Cup 2021 in Qatar” with Mohammed Ilaiwi (University of Valencia) and Dr. Romulo Gonzalez and Prof. Ferran Calabuig (Universidad Católica de Valencia). With limited research on volunteers’ motivation in the MENA region, they argued for the importance of understanding whether there are any cultural differences in motivations in the region, especially since Qatar will be the first Arab and Muslim country to host the FIFA World Cup. 

EDSI 2022 was held under the theme “Decision Sciences in a Disrupted World”. EDSI is a regional subdivision of the Decision Sciences Institute (DSI), a nonprofit professional organization of European researchers, managers, educators, and students interested in decision-making techniques and processes in private and public organizations.