Saleh Abdullah al-Yazidi (left) and Mohamed Jassim al-Abduljabber work with the Media and Broadcasting team, while Alaa Ali Soliman (right) is a volunteer with the Spectator Services team.
By Sports Reporter/Doha
The 24th Men’s Handball World Championship has received great reviews from participants and spectators alike, and, helping the Qatar 2015 Organising Committee deliver part of its success is a team of over 1500 volunteers supporting several aspects of the championship.
Since the start of the tournament, a network of volunteers has been working across the three competition venues — Lusail Multipurpose Hall, Duhail Sports Hall, Ali Bin Hamad Al Attiya Arena — and non-competition venues such as hotels and the airport. They have helped ensure that queries pertaining to the championship are met with reliable information and visitors are greeted with hospitality and assistance.
Representing the State of Qatar is a group of 420 Qatari volunteers who have offered their efforts and services towards the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship. The Qatar 2015 Volunteers Programme has worked closely with local organisations such as the Qatar Centre for Voluntary Activities (QCVA), universities and schools such as Jassim Bin Hamad Independent School, as well as sport clubs and local communities. These collaborations have helped interested Qatari nationals to have a chance to showcase their culture, hospitality and sense of sporting spirit by signing up for the programme.
A Qatari volunteer with the Media and Broadcasting team, Saleh Abdullah al-Yazidi said: “I enjoy volunteering and supporting my country to show the whole world the Qatari hospitality and culture. As a News Assistant, I support Media Representatives with various queries, under strict deadlines. My best moment is when I see the stadium full of fans supporting and cheering for their teams.”
Applications for the Qatar 2015 Volunteers Programme began as early as June 2014 and the team also boasts of a diverse set of members from 46 countries across the world. This structure has helped bring together people of different cultural, linguistic and professional backgrounds to make the Programme reflective of the global nature of the event itself.
Alaa Ali Soliman, an Egyptian national and volunteer with the Spectator Services team, said: “I love being a part of this great event. Thank you to the Organising Committee. This has given me a new experience and a better understanding of handball. I look forward to checking-in each day for my duty here and being in the Spectators Services, I enjoy the spirit of teamwork. It is always fun to be in touch with different people from diverse places worldwide.”
The Qatar 2015 Organising Committee has also been working hard to make the Qatar 2015 Volunteers Programme truly inclusive, by providing dedicated support for volunteers with special needs or physical disabilities.
One such Qatari volunteer, Mohamed Jassim al-Abduljabber, said: “As a Media Assistant, I ensure printed results are distributed on time to Media representatives. I am very proud to serve Qatar. I enjoy taking on volunteering opportunities and being part of such events. My motto: If there is a will, there is a way.”
The members of the Volunteers Programme are an extension of the workforce team and act as the ‘public face’ of the championship providing assistance across the event.
To help keep them motivated, daily newsletters are published in the venues and a ‘Volunteer of the Day’ is picked for each day of the championship recognising individuals that have gone the extra mile by delivering outstanding service in their roles, in addition to many other activities.
The volunteers at the 24th Men’s Handball World Championship have been a crucial element of success and have been offering their services across a range of functional areas, including Accreditation, Airport Services, Ceremonies, Media & Broadcasting, Protocol, Spectator Services, Transport, Uniforms, Venue Operations and Workforce Support.
