AusLeisure

With Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) having promoted the sustainable legacy of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, Doha's Ras Abu Aboud Stadium is seen as being a trailblazer in 'pop-up' stadium provision and a potential blueprint for future sports events.

Positioned on an artificial promontory and able to accommodate 40,000 spectators, the venue, which will host host matches up to the quarter-finals stage of the tournament, is being made largely from shipping containers.

Once the tournament is over it will be completely dismantled, with its parts transformed into other sporting facilities in Qatar and overseas.

So far, 923 containers have been delivered to the stadium site out of the 949 required for setting up the arena. The fabrication of steel for the structure is 94% and the development of the steel structure is now 33% complete.

Mohammed Al Mulla, qcting Precinct Director for the Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, advised "it’s an honour to work on such a sustainable project. Sustainability is at the core of everything we do for Qatar 2022 and Ras Abu Aboud exemplifies that commitment. The fact we’ve been able to decontaminate this former industrial site and turn it into a prime seafront location for future generations to enjoy is a great legacy for us.”

Being built on former industrial land close to Doha Port, the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy (SC) has put in a lot of work into rehabilitating the site.

As SC’s Sustainability & Environment Senior Manager, Bodour Al Meer explains “due to the nature of construction at the time the buildings were constructed, many had asbestos within their structures. Asbestos removal specialists were employed, taking exceptional care during the demolition and site preparation phases. Over 65 tonnes of asbestos containing material was removed from the site and safely disposed.

“Soil and groundwater contamination were also present in some locations. Water was run through a specific treatment process before it was used for dust suppression on-site or discharged into the sea, to adhere to Qatar’s strict environmental requirements.”

More than 80% of the materials from the demolished buildings were reused or recycled, including metals, electronics, and wood and office/packaging waste. Almost 70,000 tonnes of concrete and asphalt were crushed, tested and stockpiled to use during the construction of the stadium.

The land on which the stadium will sit was also home to trees and vegetation, some of which were more than 30 years old. Keeping the sustainability factor in mind, more than 875 trees were inspected and tagged, and where possible, excavated and removed to the SC Tree & Turf Nursery, which provides the trees and turf for all Qatar 2022 venues.

The stadium has been designed by Madrid (Spain)-based Fenwick Iribarren Architects.

Work on Qatar’s eight World Cup stadiums and mega-projects linked to the tournament have continued during the current Coronavirus crisis

The Ras Abu Aboud Stadium is set to host matches till the quarterfinal stage during the tournament.

Of the proposed eight World Cup venues, one stadium - the Khalifa International Stadium - is already complete while the SC has promised to deliver the remaining venues two years before the tournament kicks off.

Images: Doha's Ras Abu Aboud Stadium under construction (top) and how the venue will look during the 2022 FIFA World Cup (below). Images courtesy of Qatar's Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy.

Related Articles

3rd May 2020 - FIFA commences distribution of $165 million to member associations

1st May 2020 - China looks to FIFA World Cup hosting with new football stadia

26th February 2020 - 1000 day countdown to Qatar’s FIFA World Cup

24th January 2020 - FIFA delivers sustainability strategy for Qatar 2022 World Cup

23rd April 2020 - Qatar and Saudi Arabia enter rival bids to host 2030 Asian Games

18th December 2019 - Qatar World Cup’s Hassan al-Thawadi says migrant worker reforms on their way

4th October 2019 - Qatar Olympic Committee advances bid to host 2030 Asian Games

2nd October 2019 - IAAF embarrassment at tiny attendances at Doha World Championships

18th June 2019 - Qatar World Cup 2022 shows mega-events can transform countries

29th March 2019 - Qatar 2022 organisers reveal playing surfaces for FIFA World Cup

6th February 2019 - Qatar and FIFA launch joint venture to oversee delivery of 2022 World Cup

22nd December 2018 - Qatar unveils design for final 2022 World Cup stadium

23rd November 2018 - Qatar World Cup organisers give venue progress update four years from event

5th October 2018 - Qatar reveals upgraded Khalifa International Stadium

18th September 2018 - Qatar to donate World Cup stadium seats to nations in need of sporting infrastructure

9th June 2018 - Qatar’s Al Thumama Stadium wins prestigious international architectural accolade

28th November 2017 - ‘Reusable’ stadium plan revealed for waterside FIFA 2022 World Cup venue

23rd August 2017 - Qatar reveals design for sixth FIFA World Cup Stadium

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.