Doha, November 05 (QNA) - The Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) organized a panel discussion Thursday on sustainability in sports events: from commitment to impact and lasting legacy.

This initiative is part of its ongoing efforts to develop human capital, embed a culture of sustainability, and raise awareness of its importance within the sports sector, all in conjunction with Qatar Sustainability Week 2026.

The panel discussion was organized by the Human Resources and Administrative Affairs Department, in collaboration with the Strategy and Sustainability Department. It featured contributions from Vice President of the Regional Network for Social Responsibility Dr. Ali Abdullah Al Ibrahim, an expert in sustainable development, and Dr. Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari, an expert in environment and sustainability, as well as a researcher in earth and climate sciences.

Dr. Al Ibrahim addressed the complementary relationship between social responsibility, sustainability, and legacy. He outlined the three pillars of sustainability, environmental protection and resource conservation; economic efficiency and continuity; and the promotion of health, equality, and social responsibility, and examined how these align with the Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Sustainable Development Goals.

In turn, Dr. Al Kuwari explored the concepts of governance and social responsibility within the context of sustainable sports. He discussed ways to integrate sustainability standards into the various stages of organizing sporting events, from planning and execution to evaluation, with a focus on optimizing energy and water consumption, minimizing waste and carbon emissions, utilizing sustainable materials, and reducing the use of single-use plastics.

The panel discussion featured a presentation on the Diamond League athletics series, organized by the Qatar Athletics Federation, as an exemplary model for implementing sustainability standards in global sporting events. The Doha edition achieved a 95 percent compliance rate with the established standards, based on an assessment that covered 55 criteria across six key areas.

The results also showed that 88 percent of waste was diverted from landfills, 90 percent of vehicles used are electric or low-emission, 93 percent of suppliers have been evaluated based on sustainability criteria, and paper consumption has been reduced.

Director of the Human Resources and Administrative Affairs Department Maryam Al Kuwari emphasized that Sustainability Week serves as an opportunity to translate theoretical concepts into daily practices within the workplace. She highlighted the importance of equipping employees with knowledge and practical experience to enhance their contributions toward improving organizational performance.

For her part, Head of the Sustainability Unit Shaikha Al Sahli indicated that sustainability and sporting legacy constitute a core pillar of the QOC's strategy (2023–2030), aimed at building a sustainable sports ecosystem, strengthening partnerships, and developing sports facilities in accordance with environmental standards.

At the conclusion of the panel discussion, Director of the Support Services Sector at the QOC Hamad Lahdan Al Mohannadi honored the speakers in recognition of their scholarly contributions and their role in enriching the discussion and promoting concepts of sustainability and sporting legacy. (QNA)