The 3rd edition of The World Stadium Congress kicked off on Tuesday (May 20) in Doha, with a focus on providing sporting infrastructure for World Cup projects.Qatar is planning to build and renovate at least eight stadiums to host the soccer World Cup in
2022.
The small Gulf country is also planning an ambitious infrastructure plan for transportation, hotels, and roads needed to accommodate such an event.But these massive projects have raised concerns among some contractors about logistical challenges with planning simultaneous projects that should all be ready before 2022.The head of planning at Consolidated Contractors Company, Ahmed Fouad, said the construction boom in neighbouring countries is another concern, as well as the late start of some projects related to
the World Cup.

"There is a peak of demand for workers here. At the same time Saudi Arabia has many projects. Dubai is preparing for the Expo 2020. So, the availability of required material and manpower and completing designs at the right time for stadiums and infrastructure before 2022 are the main challenges. Especially, since the building of stadiums and some other projects started later than the plan submitted to FIFA by Qatar," he said that, according to the original bid, new stadiums were supposed to start the design stage in 2011, while renovations of existing stadiums like Rayyan and Khalifa stadiums were supposed to start in 2012.

But Rayyan is still in the design stage, he said, and Al Wakra stadium is the only new stadium where work has already started.

CEO of ASTAD Project Management, Ali Bin Nasser Al Khalifa, downplayed such concerns, saying that transparency between all stakeholders is the only way to overcome any challenges.ASTAD is handling the project management of various stadiums in Qatar.

"There should be a conversation. One of the main reasons behind hosting this conference is transparency, so everyone can discuss the risks and the best ways to handle them," he said.Al Khalifa said that the published deadlines and countdown, which are open to the public, ensures all parties are accountable.

"Time is very important. There is a countdown that everybody can follow. Everybody will be accountable for any delay. It's not just the issue of the contractor. The consulting company is responsible, the decision-maker is responsible. So, any delay that could result in delays in executing projects should be discussed by everyone. It's not the problem of the contractor alone.

It's everyone's problem and everyone should discuss the best way to reach the target," he said. Head of the business sector at Al Khaliji Bank, Mohamed Assem Abd El Khaleq, says that local banks will play a major role in funding World Cup projects.