Athletes and fans from around the world will arrive in Qatar later this month, receiving a welcome from over 3,000 volunteers, dedicated to ensuring a successful IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019.
With thousands of enthusiasts committed to helping deliver the competition, it is the country’s biggest ever sporting volunteering programme with 100 different nationalities making up the team of volunteers.
The multilingual team are aged from just 10 through to 70 years old, showing the diverse interest and dedication to supporting the Championships with roles varying from spectator services and ticketing to athlete well-being and medical services.
The medical operation throughout the competition will see professionally trained nursing students offer their support, with the University of Calgary in Qatar committing over 80 personnel, who will observe and support during the ten-day competition which will see a significant medical operation working with federations, athletes, coaches and spectators.
Speaking on the efforts of the volunteering team, Sheikha Asma al-Thani, Director of Marketing and Communications, Local Organising Committee, commented: “Qatar is preparing to welcome hundreds of different nationalities later this month and every effort has been made to give a warm traditional Qatari welcome to those coming to Doha.
“We have a multi-national team of volunteers who can speak many different languages and understand diverse cultures, allowing a comforting experience for athletes, international media and spectators.
“Our broadly experienced volunteers have undertaken a number of training workshops giving them new experiences and creating first hand experiences and new opportunities which will benefit every individual in the areas of interest and expertise, as we continue to inspire the next generation throughout Qatar, using the power of sport.”
Nursing student Hajar al-Kuwari will dedicate her time to supporting the medical team, adding: “I’m excited to volunteer and proud to be a part of this incredible event. I think this is a good example of how nurses can contribute to Qatari society and to big international events like this that come to our country. It will be a lot of work and some long hours, but my fellow nursing students and I are looking forward to helping and learning as much as possible. We’re doing this because we want to help Qatar and to broaden our own education.”
Ensuring that the team of volunteers get the best from their experience, as well as being able to share best practice and ideas for further development, the Local Organising Committee has created the Volunteers Centre, alongside Khalifa International Stadium, where the dedicated team can meet up, plan for their days and take part in a whole host of interactive education and entertainment activities.
Volunteers supporting the IAAF World Athletics Championships Doha 2019 will be on hand to assist with all queries throughout the ten-days of action with tickets still available to see the world’s finest athletes compete at Khalifa International Stadium.
Related Story