Qatar and WHO forge pathway for safer, healthier global sporting events
Part of Sport for Health initiative
Building upon the groundbreaking experiences of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Qatar and the World Health Organization (WHO) have jointly unveiled a new report that provides valuable insights and a strategic framework for ensuring the health and safety of grassroots and mega-sporting events worldwide.
The report, Changing the Game: Strengthening Health and Well-Being through Sport Events, is the culmination of a three-year partnership known as Sport for Health, launched in 2021.
The collaboration, forged between Qatar, WHO, FIFA, and Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, aimed to embed health-focused practices into the World Cup’s planning and execution while creating a lasting legacy.
The report was introduced at the Ministerial event Strengthening Health and Well-being Through Sport Events, held in Doha during the 71st WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Committee meeting.
Dr Hanan Mohamed Al Kuwari, Qatar’s Minister of Public Health, expressed the potential for this initiative to serve as a model for future major sporting events. “The partnership between Qatar, WHO, and FIFA is a beacon of inspiration for organisers worldwide, demonstrating the importance of incorporating health considerations from the outset of event planning,” she said.
“This model reflects a profound commitment to harnessing the power of large-scale sports events to foster significant public health improvements, ensuring well-being for generations to come.”
Transformative influence
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasised sports’s transformative influence on physical and mental health. “This report exemplifies how sport can catalyse healthier lifestyles,” he stated.
“It confirms that health promotion, security, and advocacy can be seamlessly integrated into the fabric of global sporting events. WHO is steadfast in ensuring these events remain powerful drivers of sustainable health.”
Qatari Olympic high-jump champion Mutaz Barshim underscored the universal power of sport to inspire and unite. “Sport holds the unmatched ability to transform lives,” Barshim remarked.
“The Sport for Health initiative demonstrated during the 2022 World Cup has proven that sporting events can serve as a platform for advancing both physical and mental well-being, setting a remarkable precedent for future international events.”
The Sport for Health partnership was central to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, during which various health-related initiatives were implemented. These initiatives focused on health promotion, such as tobacco control, mental health advocacy, promoting healthy diets, and encouraging physical activity. The project also prioritised health security, creating a solid foundation for public health safety measures during the tournament.
The partnership’s impact was thoroughly reviewed, resulting in a comprehensive set of recommendations, including forming memorandums of understanding with private health sector stakeholders such as hospitals and healthcare providers, ensuring early collaboration for effective healthcare management, involving all relevant stakeholders in decision-making and planning; and developing detailed safety procedures and training programmes for major incidents.
Additionally, the report stresses the need to strengthen compliance with public health measures during large-scale events.
The Sport for Health initiative was conceived with a dual purpose: safeguarding the health of participants and visitors during the tournament and building a legacy that extends far beyond it; by leveraging the World Cup’s global platform, Qatar and its partners aimed to promote long-term health initiatives, including physical activity, nutritious diets, and healthy lifestyle choices.
Hero image: Changing the Game: Strengthening Health and Well-Being through Sport Events is the culmination of a three-year partnership, Sport for Health, launched in 2021. Credit: Joe Calomeni
