By Andrew Warshaw in Doha
November 13 – Qatar has taken the next decisive step in its preparations for the 2022 World Cup by signing a collaboration agreement with The International Centre for Sport Security (ICSS), the not-for-profit sport organisation based here in the capital.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) signed by the ICSS and the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee will create an instant mechanism for dealing with safety issues 11 years before the tournament.
Mohammed Hanzab, President of the ICSS, said: “The need to develop international standards for security procedures is more critical than ever and we look forward to sharing knowledge, expertise and best practice from around the globe with the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee, as well as studying and capturing knowledge capital before, during and after the 2022 FIFA World Cup for the benefit of future major sporting events.”
The ICSS’s Executive Director, Helmut Spahn, who was Head of Security for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, will be in charge of the operation.
“Safety and security considerations are at the heart of all event planning,” he said.
Hassan Al-Thawadi (pictured above right with Hanzab), general secretary of Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee who was the public face of Qatar’s World Cup bid, said it was vital that the country embraces security from an early stage and said Qatar now had the perfect opportunity to learn from the experts.
The ICSS’s mission is to enhance security and safety at sports events throughout the world, not just the World Cup, by providing training, research and tailored consulting.
One of those brought in is the former Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry.
“They’ve got the time to get ready and the willingness to draw upon expertise,” Parry told insideworldfootball.
“From a security perspective, will they make the World Cup work?
“Yes.
“But they’ve got to get out and experience major events, that would be my message.
“You can’t train in a vacuum.”
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