The organizers of the 2022 FIFA World Cup circulated 1,300 buses through the streets of Doha on Thursday August 18 to simulate life-size transport of the public through this small Gulf state, which is preparing for a logistical challenge, with sudden over a million visitors.
“These are the most complex transport operations ever mounted for a major sporting event”assures Ahmad al Obaidly, head of Mowasalat, the operator of bus and taxi services in Qatar, the first country in the Middle East to host the World Cup, from November 21 to December 18.
Organizers simulated transport conditions between the eight stadiums scheduled for the competition on Thursday on the busiest days of the World Cup, with up to 300,000 supporters in Doha at the same time.
In the sweltering heat, hundreds of air-conditioned, but nearly empty, buses traveled between stadiums, metro stations and scheduled pick-up points. At Al Wakra metro station on the outskirts of Doha, more than 1,000 Mowasalat drivers played supporters going to Al Janoub Stadium, five kilometers away.
More than 4,000 buses needed
Al Bayt Stadium, where the opening match will be played on November 20, does not have a metro station. Hundreds of passengerless buses traveled the 25 kilometers to the nearest station in the new town of Lusail, as they will when taking foreign fans to their match.
The buses even made the return trip after midnight to simulate late-night Group B game conditions. “We want to make sure our plans work”said Thani Al Zarraa, head of mobility for the World Cup.
Mr Obaidly said 3,000 buses had been purchased and there would be more than 4,000 in total on the streets for the World Cup. The company also doubled its number of drivers, to 14,000 during the World Cup, mostly from Asia and Africa.
Each bus will have five CCTV cameras linked to a command center. After the tournament, the buses will be donated to the Qatar Public Transport Service, which will end up “one of the first countries in the world to have an all-electric public transport service”assure M. Obaidly.