ASSESSING THE IMPACTS OF MEGA SPORTING EVENTS ON HUMAN RIGHTS: A CASE OF THE 2022 FIFA WORLD CUP IN QATAR

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to assess the impacts of Mega Sporting Events on human rights, focusing on the FIFA 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
 Methodology: The study adopted a case study research design. The study administered structured questionnaires to a target population of 520 respondents out of which 400 respondents returned filled questionnaires. Simple random sampling was used to select a sample size of 400 respondents working in different activities related to the FIFA 2022 Association World Cup in Qatar. The quantitative data obtained was analysed using the SPSS version 25 for data analysis through the use of descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages with t-tests used to test the significance of the frequencies. Multiple linear regression was used to depict the relationship between the dependent and predictor variables.
 Findings: The findings of the study demonstrated that there exist human rights guiding principles, most of which have been adopted from international declarations, conventions and treaties. Also, the study found out that the different phases of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar have significant effects on adverse human rights and also significantly present opportunities for advancing human rights. Besides, the study found that challenges such as the Kafala Scheme, increase in unregulated recruitment agents, religion and Qatar’s tradition continue to inhibit efforts that have been put in place by different actors towards enhancing human rights.
 Unique contribution to theory, practice and policy : The study recommend policy measures focusing on Mega Sporting Events’ towards influencing sustainability and the effect of Mega Sporting Events human rights for both local residents and migrant workers.