Hours after improving the colour of his Olympic medal from bronze to silver, Qatar high jumper Mutaz Essa Barshim visited the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy’s (SC) booth at Bayt Qatar. The 25-year-old, who won Qatar’s solitary medal in Rio de Janeiro, received a special reception following which he was briefed about the progress made by the future stadium of his favourite football team, Al Rayyan Sports Club, as it gears up for the first ever FIFA World Cup in the Middle East.
Barshim, who finished behind Canada’s Derek Drouin with a jump of 2.36 metres, heard about the legacy initiatives undertaken by the SC involving Al Rayyan Stadium. Of particular interest to the holder of the Asian men’s high jump record was the proposed downsizing of the stadium capacity following the 2022 showpiece event.
SC delegates at the Qatar Olympic Committee’s hospitality house explained the modus operandi of achieving this — by dismantling the stadium’s modular upper tier seating which would be donated to developing countries in the region.
Barshim, who won the bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, was also keen to know all the other 2022 legacy initiatives of the organisation including stadium cooling technology, Challenge 22 and Generation Amazing. (www.sc.qa)