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Hisham Aljundi
Doha
The first Major Event Safety and Security Conference kicked off in Doha on Tuesday.
Organised by the Security Committee of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy in association with International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOl), the first of its kind conference was opened by Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa al Thani.
The two-day conference aims to enhance international partnership in the field of providing security and safety for major sports events.
Representatives of 192 Interpol member countries, international organisations and participants from 65 countries will attend the two-day conference.
The PM also launched the 'knowledge management system" under Project Stadia established by INTERPOL in 2012 in partnership with Qatar.
Project Stadia was designed to create a Centre of Excellence to help INTERPOL member countries plan and undertake policing and security preparations for major events.
Over the past five years, the learning accrued through Project STADIA from member countries that have successfully hosted major international events has been consolidated in a state-of-the-art, web-based knowledge management system, a comprehensive knowledge repository of good practices in all aspects of major event security.
INTERPOL Secretary-General Jurgen Stock praised Qatar's hosting of the First Major Event Safety and Security Conference.
"Qatar is preparing to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022 and securing such criminal risk is a top priority for the host country. A common goal has been to set up the project Stadia to help member states provide security," he said.
"We launched this project in 2012 in partnership with Qatar to assist law enforcement agencies in the world and there has been interaction in the knowledge management system to contribute to securing major events," he added.
Hassan al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), said Qatar is keen to organise a unique FIFA World Cup with the highest standards of safety and security, stressing the importance of global cooperation to organise safe sports events.
He said Qatar's vision about securing the World Cup is reflected in its accomplishment in terms of security in general in the country.
He said Qatar leads regional countries in the global indicators of safety and security in addition to its advanced rank globally.
"Qatar is continuously working on ensuring a safe and secure environment for its people and residents," Thawadi said, noting that stable and secure environment was the foundation of rapid development that the country has witnessed and continues to witness.
He said Qatar has become well-known globally for its safety, where it was ranked as the safest country in the MENA region for the ninth consecutive time in the Global Peace Index, which was complied by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
Thawadi said the relationship between SC and Interpol was established at the 81st Interpol General Assembly in Rome five years ago, which demonstrated"our commitment to securing the Middle East's first World Cup and was a recognition of the importance of coordination and collaboration between international law enforcement agencies in order to ensure a safe and successful event."
"In a world that is growing more connected with every second that passes, the importance of international cooperation across security agencies only increases. Events such as the World Cup or the Olympics will not be safe and secure without an integrated, international network of law enforcement bodies working seamlessly together," he said.
Thawadi said,"Our international partnerships also include an agreement with the Council of Europe and with numerous nations, including the UK, to establish a national police unit for the security of stadiums the first of its kind in Qatar and the Middle East."
"We launched this project in 2012 in partnership with Qatar to assist law enforcement agencies in the world and there has been interaction in the knowledge management system to contribute to securing major events," he added.
Hassan al Thawadi, Secretary General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy (SC), said Qatar is keen to organise a unique FIFA World Cup with the highest standards of safety and security, stressing the importance of global cooperation to organise safe sports events.
He said Qatar's vision about securing the World Cup is reflected in its accomplishment in terms of security in general in the country.
He said Qatar leads regional countries in the global indicators of safety and security in addition to its advanced rank globally.
"Qatar is continuously working on ensuring a safe and secure environment for its people and residents," Thawadi said, noting that stable and secure environment was the foundation of rapid development that the country has witnessed and continues to witness.
He said Qatar has become well-known globally for its safety, where it was ranked as the safest country in the MENA region for the ninth consecutive time in the Global Peace Index, which was complied by the Institute for Economics and Peace.
Thawadi said the relationship between SC and Interpol was established at the 81st Interpol General Assembly in Rome five years ago, which demonstrated"our commitment to securing the Middle East's first World Cup and was a recognition of the importance of coordination and collaboration between international law enforcement agencies in order to ensure a safe and successful event."
"In a world that is growing more connected with every second that passes, the importance of international cooperation across security agencies only increases. Events such as the World Cup or the Olympics will not be safe and secure without an integrated, international network of law enforcement bodies working seamlessly together," he said.
Thawadi said,"Our international partnerships also include an agreement with the Council of Europe and with numerous nations, including the UK, to establish a national police unit for the security of stadiums the first of its kind in Qatar and the Middle East."
