An online survey has been launched to assist in understanding the impact of FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 on people's health and mental well-being.
The survey is a collaboration between Mental Health Services of Hamad Medical Corporation and Ministry of Public Health (MoPH), and is based upon the Sport for Health initiative of World Health Organization and Qatar. The ‘Sporting Event Impact Survey’, comprising 48 questions, is available at MoPH's Fan Health Information portal.
Sport is widely believed to have a positive impact on quality of life. Sport events are perceived as elements of a city’s destination attractiveness for tourists and residents.
The study intends to find the positive and negative impact on mental wellbeing of people — residents and fans.
The Ministry has encouraged public to participate in the survey.
“We invite you to take part in this short anonymous online survey. The survey will assist in understanding positive and negative impacts of mega sporting events on health of populations, on health promotion and mental well-being,” the Ministry said.
The survey’s questionnaire includes primary questions such as if a national, resident or visitors; marital status, age, education and employment.
It also has questions related to travelling and attending mega sport events and risk of catching and spreading infectious diseases.
Some questions are specifically related to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022. Next set of questions are based on whether attending sports inspires people to exercise and be physically active. Questions on eating and smoking habits ask if the respondent agrees that total tobacco ban inside stadium and availability of 30% healthy food and snack options make this a healthier FIFA World Cup.
The survey also tries to identify how the favourite team’s performance (winning or losing) affects stress levels during mega sporting events like the World Cup.
The last part of the survey questions ask if respondents felt secure and safe in Qatar during the World Cup and if the impression about Qatar and its people changed positively as a result of visiting the country during the World Cup.
The survey is conducted as part of ‘Sport for Health’ initiative, which is part of MoPH’s three-year partnership with the WHO, FIFA and Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy and the to make the Qatar 2022 a beacon for physical and mental health promotion, and a model for ensuring future mega sport events are healthy and safe.
