Doha, April 15 (QNA) - The Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) concluded its three-day Sports Villages Management course, which saw the participation of over 70 trainees from within and outside Qatar, representing various professional and academic disciplines.

The initiative reflects the Academy's leading role in developing national and regional talent. The course was exceptional as it was the first of its kind in the region, specializing in this specific area. This underscores the belief of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) and the Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA) in the importance of this vital field, especially as the region prepares to host major sporting events, most notably the Asian Games Doha 2030 and the Asian Games Riyadh 2034.

The course covered comprehensive and in-depth topics, focusing on understanding the sports villages as an integrated system, not merely a collection of separate facilities. It also addressed the ability to plan and design a comprehensive functional village layout, understand governance and sustainable management mechanisms, and plan and manage multi-sport and multi-user operations.

The workshop also emphasized the importance of enhancing the status of the Athletes' Village as a comprehensive destination and ensuring the sustainability and long-term impact of these vital facilities.

The workshop was led by Louis Louis, an expert from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Participants actively engaged, asking a variety of questions about how the workshop could be applied to preparing for the Asian Games – Doha 2030 and other sporting events.

A key feature of the workshop was its focus on the concept of sustainability, which has become a crucial criterion for success in managing major sporting events.

The workshop covered practical strategies for waste reduction, efficient resource management, and the implementation of circular systems to ensure the continued positive impact of the Athletes' Village even after the event concludes.

Participants also discussed the importance of stakeholder engagement in the management process, from athletes and National Olympic Committees to local communities, to ensure a balance between sporting objectives and environmental and social considerations.

Participants expressed their appreciation for this pioneering initiative, affirming that the workshop was a valuable addition to their professional development and would contribute to enhancing their ability to address the complex challenges associated with managing Athletes' Villages.

They also noted that this experience would open new horizons for them in the field of sports event organization and enhance their opportunities to actively contribute to the success of the Doha 2030 Asian Games.

For his part, HE Secretary General of the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) Jassim bin Rashid Al Buainain, who is also Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA), considered the course one of the most important courses offered by the Qatar Olympic Academy (QOA).

He explained that it is being held in recognition of its importance, given the numerous significant events taking place in Qatar and the region as a whole.

He emphasized that both the Committee and the Academy, through this course, aim to develop qualified personnel to manage sports villages during major sporting events.

He noted that sports villages often employ over 10,000 staff and volunteers across various specialties and roles to ensure the highest organizational standards at these events. (QNA)