In less than a week, the 2022 FIFA World Cup will begin in Qatar, marking the first time the tournament will be held in the Middle East and offering the host country an opportunity to create a legacy for business development in the entire region.
University of Florida researcher Kyriaki Kaplanidou says a mega sporting event like the World Cup — the world’s most-watched — can act as an accelerator for change as several expected and unexpected business relationships are made.
“Host countries of mega sports events take advantage of the development opportunities they bring to achieve long-term goals in areas like economic, tourism, socio-culture, environmental, sport and health,” said Kaplanidou, a professor of sport management. “Having been chosen as the site for the World Cup 12 years ago, Qatar had longer than any other host country to prepare for the competition and to build lasting relationships and business…
