The Security and Safety Operations Committee (SSOC) of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ celebrated the conclusion of its leadership and training programme this week in the presence of His Excellency Sheikh Khalifa bin Hamad Al Thani, Commander of Security Operations for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™. Also attending were Colin Smith, FIFA’s Chief Operating Officer—World Cup and Managing Director for Q22, senior military officials, managers and unit heads. The ceremony honored male and female trainees who participated in various leadership and security training programmes under the patronage of HE Sheikh Khalifa. Among these, 180 expert safety and security officers received certification to conduct further training for government and private security forces. In all, the plan for security readiness ahead of the world’s most popular sporting event will see the deployment of 32,000 government and 17,000 private security personnel, ensuring the highest global standards of safety, responsiveness and coordination.

Deputy Head of the SSOC Training and Development Unit Major Abdul Rahman Hamad al-Suwaidi said, “All our training programmes have been internationally accredited and were implemented and overseen by Qatari nationals. Those who have now been prepared and certified will represent a future legacy for Qatar, where their skills and trainings will be utilised even beyond the tournament period.” A presentation by the Training and Development Unit showcased key areas of security focus and progress before the start of the world’s most popular sporting event, including crowd safety and control, security and risk management, and emergency response to serious accidents. Group Leader for FIFA’s Safety & Security team Andrey Reis said, "More than preparing the officers to deliver high level security for the FIFA World Cup™, the comprehensive training delivered by the SSOC has raised the bar of professionalism with which state security will now be delivered. We’re proud of our involvement in the training and certification of these officers and in helping Qatar achieve an elite standard of security protocol.” With the conclusion of all training programs, the SSOC’s fulfills its training mandate on schedule and announced its state of readiness, including the full preparation of all security forces to receive and safeguard the expected more than one million guests arriving from abroad for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™.