With many of the world’s top stars gearing up to claim top honours at the UEFA Euro 2016, which kicked off yesterday, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) are preparing to send a 38-member delegation to gather experience to bring back to Qatar.
Also in attendance in the programmes designed by UEFA coinciding with the elite European competition will be a number of external Qatari stakeholders, taking the total number of observers from Qatar to 64.
SC delegates will be part of four official UEFA programmes — observation of Euro 2016 functionaries, secondment of office-bearers, shadowing of employees and executive shadowing.
SC assistant secretary general, Tournament Affairs, Nasser al-Khater is already in France, having begun his executive shadowing on the eve of the tournament. He is following UEFA Events SA CEO Martin Kallen and gathering daily experience on the operational running of the major tournament.
“We are delighted to have a strong presence at Euro 2016, both for our SC staff, who will be gaining vital operational insights and experience of running one of the biggest tournaments in the world, as well as for our stakeholders from across Qatar to benefit in their preparations,” said al-Khater from Paris.
“Our key focus is to learn as much from this very detailed programme and transfer the knowledge back to Qatar once it has been completed.
“We also take this opportunity to wish our counterparts in France the best of luck for the month ahead, which I am sure will be successful and showcase both optimal organisation and exciting football for the fans.”       
The SC delegation — which will be primarily based in Paris and Lyon — will be joined in France by representatives from a range of 2022 FIFA World Cup Qatar stakeholders.
Ashghal, Aspire, Josoor Institute, Kahramaa, Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Ministry of Interior, Qatar Football Association, Qatar Olympic Committee, Qatar Rail, Qatar Stars League and Qatar Tourism Authority will all have delegates in France during the month-long competition.
A pre-departure meeting was held last week to introduce participants to the schedules and objectives of the UEFA programmes, including the required deliverables on their return to Qatar. SC executive director pf Tournament Operations & Planning Dr Sakis Batsilas added: “The opportunity to participate in an official UEFA observation programme is a major achievement in itself.
“With the schedule covering key tournament areas, such as stadiums, training sites, fan zones and the international broadcasting centre, in addition to security command facilities, transport hubs and logistics centres, I am convinced that all participants will greatly benefit from attending this key tournament.
“The pre-departure briefing allowed us to introduce the observation programme to all participants and highlight the importance and necessity of bringing the knowledge acquired back to Qatar.”
The SC’s Francisco Diaz, who is a French national, will be headed to Paris next week: “I am excited to be part of the SC delegation. France is my country and Paris, where I will be based during the observation, is my city. I will be at a team camp, at official fan zones and at two of the Euro 2016 matches. I am looking to learn from the experience and bring it back to the SC and help Qatar stage a successful World Cup in 2022.”
Meanwhile, Khalid al-Naama will be representing the SC in Marseille: “I am proud that Qatar is hosting the first ever World Cup in the Middle East and the second in Asia.
“I will use my trip to Euro 2016 to learn from the organisation of a major football tournament and bring back the skills to help and serve my nation in the years leading to 2022. The trip will give me the experience and the skills to help organise Qatar’s historic event with efficiency.”
Upon their return, members of the delegation are required to transmit programme outcomes to their respective departments and organisations, as Qatar continues to advance in preparations for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. (SC.qa)