The Gulf Organisation for Research Development (GO for RD) and the Qatar Olympic Committee (QOC) have signed an MoU towards establishing environmentally sustainable sporting venues.

“The Qatar Olympic Committee has always recognised the importance of establishing a balance between environmental and economic needs when it comes to sports,” said Sheikh Saud bin Abdul Rahman Al-Thani, secretary-general of QOC.

“This agreement will allow for the assessment and evaluation of sustainability of pre-existing sporting venues, as well as setting a foundation for all future facilities to be built in Qatar.”

The agreement has GO for RD and QOC cooperate in the field of sustainability in sports venues by employing Qatar Sustainability Assessment System (QSAS) standards, and by establishing programmes that minimize energy expenditure and CO2 emissions in the construction of new facilities.

“When QSAS was developed, it was envisioned that all aspects of urban development would be encompassed by these standards,” said Dr Youssef Al-Horr, co-founder and chairman of the GO for RD.

“With Qatar already investing heavily in athletics and sports, it was only natural that future venues would be built under stringent sustainability standards.  We are therefore honoured, and privileged, to be signing this agreement today with the forward-thinking QOC.”

QSAS standards focus on local and immediate needs and implements the best sustainability practices taking into consideration the region’s social, economic, environmental and cultural conditions that are unique to that specific region.

Founded on pre-existing and proven green building guidelines, a rigorous sustainability rating system and rigid water and energy standards, QSAS integrates best practices from forty global assessment systems to create the highest standard possible sustainable construction for a multitude of buildings – from residential towers, to villas, and to football stadiums.

Sheikh Saud continued: “When the Qatar Olympic Committee committed itself to environmental sustainability, we knew that only the most stringent and regionally relevant standards would work for us.”

“The QSAS criteria were by far the most applicable standards, and our strategic partnership with the GO for RD ensures that we carry out these stringent standards thoroughly,” he added.

“We have set our sights on Qatar being at the forefront of environmental sustainability in the GCC near future, and we will continue to pursue strategic partnerships with local and regional entities to fulfill that goal. With key partners like the QOC, we will see that vision become reality sooner than later,” Dr Al-Horr concluded. – TradeArabia News Service