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Social Responsibility & Education
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ represented a large part of FIFA’s work throughout 2022 – with groundbreaking firsts not only taking place on the pitches in Qatar, but in the stands too.
Positively impacting society through the power of football is a key goal in The Vision 2020-2023. Throughout the past 12 months, FIFA has played an active role in improving matters in a wide range of sustainability, anti-discrimination and safeguarding initiatives.
Delivery of the Sustainability Strategy in Qatar
The FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ was a game changer in terms of organising a sustainable tournament. As well as there being no need for internal air travel, innovations that will have a lasting influence on the way similar events are planned and delivered in the future were everywhere to be seen in Qatar.
For example, a dedicated programme managed stadium energy and water impacts through efficient design, construction and operations.
All stadiums were 30% more energy efficient and consumed less water than international benchmarks.
Recycled water vapour from cooling systems in stadiums was used to irrigate the surrounding stadium landscape.
90% of temporary diesel generators were replaced by electric sub- stations providing greener grid power and reducing air pollution.
All five energy centres at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 stadiums had GSAS Seasonal Energy Efficiency certification.
In addition to no internal air travel, the state-of-the-art metro, a fleet of 311 eco-friendly hybrid and electric vehicles and ten electric buses were provided by sponsors Hyundai and Kia for use as ground transport for teams, officials and VIPs at the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. This marked the first time that electric vehicles were deployed in such numbers to service event organisers, a precedent which is sure to be followed as FIFA continues to emphasise the need for clean mobility.
The ecological imperative to avoid, reduce, re-use and recycle was a defining policy of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 from the early planning stages, reflecting the organisers’ leadership and commitment to divert all tournament waste from landfill, including:
• Tournament-wide recycling of plastic, aluminium, cardboard, paper and glass and composting of waste food and compostable tableware at all stadiums, training camps and other official sites.
• All uniforms for workforce staff and 20,000 volunteers were made from recycled materials and distributed in bags converted from signage and stadium dressing from previous events.
• Local charity Hifz Al Naema redistributed leftover food from stadiums and events to people in need.
Inclusivity was also high on the agenda when it came to delivering the
sustainability promises made. Not only was this edition the most sustainable in tournament history, it was also the most accessible.
• Mobility assistance, accessible transport, parking, facilities and five ticket types for people with disabilities and people with limited mobility.
• Audio-descriptive commentary in English, and for the first time Arabic, for blind and partially sighted people to enjoy matches in the live stadium atmosphere.
• For the first time at a FIFA World Cup™, sensory rooms for people with sensory access requirements to allow them to attend a match without becoming overwhelmed by the sounds and stimuli of matchday.
FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ Sustainability Strategy launched
In September 2022, FIFA published the sustainability strategy for the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023™. The commitments it includes are aligned with FIFA’s long-standing sustainability framework and ambitions, as well as with the social, economic and environmental priorities in Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
The actions and measures for the tournament will cover the key topics of accessibility, safeguarding, human rights, workers’ rights, gender equality, health, climate action, waste minimisation, green buildings and procurement.
The FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023™ is a co-hosted tournament and recognises the unique stories and cultures of First Nations people in Australia, and Māori as mana whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand. In Australia, the organisers acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the Lands and pay respect to Elders, past, present and future. In Aotearoa New Zealand, the organisers acknowledge Māori as tangata whenua and te tiriti o waitangi partners.
Key pillars of the Strategy
Accessible venues
An accessible event for disabled people and people with limited mobility across tournament site infrastructure, overlay and services.
Human rights and workers’ rights
Proper policies, procedures, grievance mechanisms and training programmes will all be in place to identify and address negative impacts and structural discrimination.
Safeguard and protect
Ensure smooth engagement and collaboration with the local safeguarding stakeholders in the host countries and Host Cities.
Minimise waste
Avoid and reduce waste as per the FIFA Sustainable Sourcing Code and all other relevant standards.
Develop women’s football
Harness the power of the competition to identify and develop programmes that will drive popularity, participation and awareness.
Protect health
Protect the right of non-smokers to breathe clean air that is not contaminated by carcinogens and other harmful substances.
Promote gender equality and equity
Identify key issues affecting women and girls in the host countries and region and develop joint initiatives with key partners.
Reduce climate impact
Estimate and reduce the competition’s greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate emissions, and use the platform to education fans on climate change.
Foster more sustainable buildings
Promote sustainable building design, construction and operations of event-related venues.
Ensure sustainable procurement
Establish and apply a sustainable procurement policy and sourcing code across the competition.
Human rights − key focus for FIFA World Cup 2026™
Following the announcement of the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Host Cities in June 2022, FIFA also published its evaluation reports for each of the cities selected to stage matches during the 23rd edition of the tournament.
FIFA is committed to ensuring that the tournament has a positive and lasting impact. Human rights have been a key consideration from the outset. FIFA’s new human rights requirements for tournaments, which were developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders and with the technical support of the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, were implemented for the first time for a major event during the bidding process for the FIFA World Cup in 2026.
As part of the bidding process, candidate host countries and host cities were required to commit, amongst other things, to their obligations under the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and to develop respective strategies. Over the past two years, human rights have also featured in the host city selection process. FIFA required candidate host cities to engage with local stakeholders and develop detailed human rights plans.
Anti-discrimination measures at the FIFA World Cup™
Discrimination – in all its possible forms and expressions – is one of the most common forms of human rights violations and abuse. It affects millions of people every day, stifling opportunities, harming physical and mental health, wasting human talent and accentuating social tensions and inequalities.
Anti-discrimination has been a core principle in the implementation of new measures to transform FIFA since 2016. A policy of zero tolerance
towards racism and discrimination was incorporated into the FIFA Disciplinary Code in 2019, and FIFA has introduced a monitoring system to report incidents of discrimination at matches in FIFA competitions. Guidance has been provided for the 211 member associations, supported by the principles outlined in the FIFA Statutes (article 4).
At the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, and in accordance with this statutory commitment, a vast number of measures were planned, delivered and implemented in Qatar.
Procedures for discriminatory incidents implemented at all matches
All FIFA match officials received subject-specific training
Proactive anti-discrimination message displayed before every match
Reactive stadium announcement initiated for the first time in FIFA World Cup history
Three-step procedure in place
Anti-discrimination monitoring system
36 fully trained match observers worked throughout the tournament
Risk assessment for each match shared with relevant FIFA match officials and security workforce
Two to four match observers at each match
Ten incidents at group stage reported to the secretariat of FIFA Disciplinary Committee (full numbers of reports to follow after the tournament)
Assessors checking 374 pre-applied flags and banners and more than 10,000 flags, banners and other fan items at the gates and in the stadium bowl at each match
Workforce training
Cultural sensitivity workshop for FIFA employees delivered
Workshop for FIFA employees delivered
All relevant safety and security workforce at venues received an anti-discrimination and cross-cultural training element
All volunteers received training element
Other relevant workforce received cross-cultural training element (hospitality, accreditation, access management)
FIFA joins forces with World Trade Organization to further economic inclusion
In September 2022, FIFA joined forces with the World Trade Organization (WTO) to look at ways of using football to promote economic inclusion, particularly in the developing world.
The partnership is established in a memorandum of understanding signed by FIFA President Gianni Infantino and WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala where the two sides agreed to collaborate by exchanging views on their respective activities and by preparing and implementing common strategies and projects.
„We believe that there is still more than football can do, especially for the youth in the developing world.“
The two organisations committed to work together to analyse the economic impact of football and its role in unlocking global economic growth potential and will explore options for the development of capacity-building activities that support the use of football as a tool for women’s economic empowerment.
“FIFA redistributes its revenue among our 211 member associations to help them develop football in their countries by notably investing in infrastructure, facilities, competitions, refereeing and coaching,” said FIFA President Gianni Infantino.
“Yet, we believe that there is still more than football can do, especially for the youth in the developing world. This important partnership can help us find ways of ensuring that football can further promote sustainable development for everyone to benefit from the global football economy.”
FIFA’s safeguarding commitment continues
In 2022, FIFA Guardians™ Safeguarding in Sport Diploma celebrated reaching nearly 5,000 learners, since its launch – together with the Open University – in 2021.
FIFA is committed to bringing about child protection at all levels of football and, to that end, the FIFA Guardians™ Safeguarding in Sport Diploma provides an educational pathway not only enhances the protection of children, but also that of other at-risk groups, such as young elite players, women, LGBT players and people with disabilities, against all forms of harassment, abuse and exploitation.
For the first online course, launched on 28 January 2021, more than 3,000 digital learners registered from member associations, confederations, regional associations and from the football family in general.
Thanks to the webinars and other educational resources made available to them, learners from member associations were able to become familiar with the tasks and various responsibilities involved in the role of a safeguarding professional in football.
New safeguarding courses delivered
In May and December 2022 respectively, courses three – Developing your Safeguarding Effectiveness-; four –Embedding Safeguarding Practice-; and five –Promoting Wider Safeguarding Change- were launched, completing the full suite of courses.
This online learning content was complemented by two additional webinars on how Member Associations and clubs can collaborate to strengthen safeguarding processes and procedures in February 2022, ending the year discussing Safeguarding in Competition Time (November).
FIFA teams up with leading UK university
In April 2022, FIFA entered into a formal multi-year partnership with the School of Sport, Exercise, and Health Sciences of Loughborough University to conduct an independent evaluation of the impact of its FIFA Guardians programme on the 211 member associations.
Key stakeholder relationships developed
In 2022, active engagement with external stakeholders continued to advocate for the enhancement of a safeguarding culture within football globally through among others, fruitful exchanges on this and other topics, during the visit at the Home of FIFA of a delegation of the ASEAN Committee in Bern (May 2022) and a delegation of Members of the European Parliament and members of the European Parliament Sports Group (July 2022).