Researchers from Stenden University Qatar and Edinburgh Napier University, UK, are working on a two year research project titled “Leveraging the 2022 Qatar World Football Cup for the promotion of green and active living. A multiple stakeholder evaluation of strategic options.” The team from Edinburgh was on a visit to Qatar to finalize various details of the project. The two day visit was aimed at exchanging views on a) How the project went b) How to continue cooperation for research in the future and c) How to increase the impact of the research that was undertaken.

The project sought to investigate how the 2022 Qatar Football World Cup can be used to inspire social change in the country. Run by Edinburgh Napier University experts, Dr. Eleni Theodoraki, Dr. Maktoba Omar and Dr. Jane Ali-Knight, working with Dr. Dan Musinguzi and Dr. Girish Nair; academics at Stenden University-Qatar it aimed to help organizers understand how the event could be leveraged to tackle Qatar’s high levels of obesity and bring down its carbon footprint.

The proposed research project is aligned with the Qatar National Research Strategy, Qatar National Development Strategy 2011-2016 and the Qatar National Vision 2030 given its emphasis on supporting physically active and sustainable communities that could make Qatar a role model in the Arab world and beyond.

The results of this study will provide guidance on how Qatar may leverage the 2022 FIFA World Cup to promote physical activity and green living among the population. The study will also shed light on any potential obstacles and how the Qatari government can address them.

Please visit the research project’s blog page to attain further information. blogs.napier.ac.uk/qatar2022/