Tribune News Network
Doha
Over 5 billion football fans are expected to tune in to watch the 22nd edition of the FIFA World Cup from Qatar.
While everyone tunes in for the competition featuring 64 matches, few know what happens in the background to keep the operations running smoothly.
All the images and radio transmissions from the eight stadiums will first pass through an enormous organic structure resembling two interwoven trees the size of approximately 30 football fields. With broadcasting rights worth $2.64 billion sold ahead of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 and a media contingent of between 1000 to 2000 media members expected to be in attendance throughout the duration of the tournament, the International Broadcasting Centre and Main Media Centre will co-exist as a massive operation, which is really a venue unto itself.
State-of-the-art infrastructures pertaining to stadiums, broadcasting, hospitality, and logistics management have been in planning for over a decade right from the time Qatar was announced as the host nation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. With an incredible amount of moving elements involved throughout the event supply chain, Qatar’s logistical planning and preparation is a key aspect in delivering on its promise of a world-class tournament.
GWC Logistics Group CEO Ranjeev Menon said, “With media and broadcasting primed to be key stakeholders in delivering a memorable tournament, logistics will emerge as a vital cog in supporting these operations to make the World Cup accessible for billions of fans tuning in from 200+ countries across 6 continents.”
Inside the International Broadcast and Main Media Centre
The Qatar National Convention Centre (QNCC), located in Doha, will be the venue for Qatar 2022 IBC and MMC, where state-of-the-art infrastructure and associated services with regard to F&B, hospitality, logistics, etc., will be provided to accredited broadcasters and media representatives.
With Education City Stadium being the nearest World Cup venue at 4 km from QNCC and Al Bayt being the farthest at 45 km, the IBC and MMC are strategically located, well-aligned, and event-ready to transmit information from all 8 stadiums to the world.
QNCC is the first-of-its-kind and one of the largest exhibition spaces in the country, which is structured on the principles of the US Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) and fitted with fixtures that enable water conservation, energy efficiency, and sustainable operations. Home to the giant spider sculpture Maman by Louise Bourgeois, QNCC is spread across 200,000 square metres including 40,000 square metres of indoor & outdoor open spaces, dedicated media rooms, and business centres.
All the broadcasting coordination for the World Cup will run through here with television and digital channels, news broadcasters, internet broadcasters, and radio channels from various regions having a space to broadcast live games, images, reports, and more. With the Licences (MRLs) for FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 officially licensed to 100+ broadcasters in different categories by FIFA, 219 territories across 6 continents will be able to enjoy live coverage – QNCC being the source!
Planned years ahead by Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy and Ooredoo Qatar, the state-of-the-art fiber optic network put in place for the World Cup will greatly benefit the broadcasting operations. A live test-run for this system was successfully completed during the FIFA Arab Cup held in 2021, proving to be a dress rehearsal for the mega blockbuster later this year. The cutting-edge technology adopted by the host nation will further enable connectivity to the base camps of 32 competing teams as well as other official and non-official broadcasting sites. Essentially meaning that more than 500 hours of video feed from the football pitches, stadiums, studios, training
grounds, etc., will be relayed around the world via the International Broadcast Centre which will be operational 24x7 during the tournament.
A Massive Logistical Undertaking Going on Behind the Scenes
Logistics will play a crucial role right from setting up the IBC and managing its day-to-day deliveries to providing necessary reverse logistics support. As the Official Logistics Provider for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, GWC will be in action right from the word go catering to freight movement of broadcasting equipment from overseas followed by its safe warehousing, venue delivery, installation set-up, dismantling (after the tournament), and return shipping to the next destination.
Setting up: When an event is held thousands of nautical miles away from your home country, logistics is critical to ensure that freight is transported in a seamless fashion. With GWC, broadcasters are assured of immaculate planning and efficient global freight forwarding services for getting their shipments safely to Qatar. Additionally, our teams are professionally trained and well-equipped to manage all types & sizes of freight including packing/unpacking, loading/off-loading, and safe handling.
Warehousing: Bringing heavy equipment into the host country for the purpose of an event of the magnitude of the FIFA World Cup would naturally require best-in-class storage facilities. With 830,000+ square metres of developed warehousing spaces throughout the country, GWC has 2 strategically-located warehouses dedicated to FIFA operations, which makes it an ideal partner for storing every type of equipment, big or small.
Distribution: A fleet comprising light, medium, heavy, and specialised commercial vehicles will be
positioned to service World Cup related pick-up and delivery of cargo. Aligned with onsite client requirements, GWC has developed capabilities that enable us to deliver broadcasting essentials such as studio equipment, FF&E, cameras, cabling, etc, to the IBC in real-time.
Support: Planning is key to ensure that the broadcasting aspect is on-point for such a mega-event. To that end, GWC will have a Master Delivery Schedule (MDS) in place to ensure that thousands of deliveries are managed seamlessly including those to the International Broadcasting Centre. On-site support to broadcasters and service providers will not only enable inbound deliveries but also the structured disposal of used cables, equipment, packing material, etc.
Health & Safety: The risks involved at various stages of the supply chain when it comes to handling heavy equipment, right from moving freight to warehousing, through to setting-up and installing on-site, need to be assessed and mitigated. At GWC health & safety is the topmost priority throughout our operations, which is achieved through the implementation of industry best practices including the use of protective gear at all times, pre-defined forklift routes, regular vehicle checks, and more.
The buzz at the stadiums, the electric on-field atmosphere, some near misses, some spectacular saves, and goals that the world will remember for ages - The IBC will bring us all this and more, well-supported by expert logisticians who will continue to work tirelessly before, during, and after the tournament.
