The third edition of Doha Goals ends this Wednesday, November 5, at the Aspire Dome in the capital of Qatar. It brought together, like the two previous ones, a large group of decision-makers and sports experts, former champions and political officials. Its organizer, the Moroccan Richard Attias, explained to FrancsJeux objectives and perspectives. Before delivering a very in-depth analysis of Qatar's vision in sport. Interview.
FrancsJeux: What objectives are the Doha Goals seeking to achieve today?
Richard Attias: The same objectives as when the forum was created in 2012. The first is to create a community. Social media has its merits, but we always make things happen better by bringing people together. The Doha Goals community now numbers several thousand people. The 2014 edition made it possible to organize more than 350 official meetings between participants during the first 36 hours. The second objective: to help bring out as many new ideas and initiatives as possible from all this.
This year, you sought to give the forum a more institutional character, marked by the presence of more than fifteen heads of state and government representatives. For what?
The private sector cannot do everything. The time has come for public authorities to take responsibility. States cannot forever rely on the private sector when it comes to sport. Many ideas have emerged from the different editions of the Doha Goals, but it is now up to the political authorities to bring them to fruition.
What is the budget for such a forum?
Around 3 million euros. A budget provided until now by the Doha Goals Foundation. We made the choice, for the first three years, to operate with our own resources, without seeking external partners. Next year, we could call on partnership.
Qatar has been seeking to establish itself for several years as a land of sport. Where does this motivation come from?
It is not artificial or only strategic. The ruling family is truly driven by a passion for sport. Sport is the DNA of this country.
The recent controversies over the attribution of the 2022 World Cup have not affected it?
We must understand that there is, among young people in Qatar, a fierce desire to have a small piece of History. And this little piece is called the Football World Cup. All these young Qataris feel relatively little concerned by the questions of corruption or the World Cup calendar which are so debated in the foreign press. And then, we cannot exclude entire parts of the world from the sporting field forever.
By using sport as a promotional tool on a global scale, Qatar has not invented a form of model, followed today by countries like Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan?
Quite. The example of Qatar has inspired many countries, which today believe that sport can be a vector of growth, business and partnership. But examples also exist in Africa. Next year, Gabon will inaugurate a formidable sports complex for the African Games. Its cost amounts to 2 billion dollars, entirely financed by the State.
Qatar seems to invest in sport without worrying about the slightest return on investment...
This is the impression that the country can give, but it is false. Qatar spends a lot, that's for sure, it has the means, but it expects a return on investment. The difference with Europe, in particular, is that the Qataris have a long-term vision. They think in the Japanese way. A long-term vision that also includes infrastructure. In Doha, even if it means building a stadium or a complex like the Aspire Dome, you might as well build a swimming pool, a hotel, a sports medical center around it… In Paris, nothing has been built around the Stade de France.
