Empirical insights into governance and planning for zero waste, risk reduction, and sustainability: a case study of the FIFA world cup 2022 in Qatar

In the twenty-first century, environmental pollution has caused the international community to focus on sustainable development. This study addresses the environmental and social impacts mega sport events must consider, using the World Cup 2022 in Qatar as a case study. This research is among the first to examine the relationships between governance, planning, risk reduction, zero waste, and sustainability in mega sport events within the Arab culture. It is the first scientific model that incorporates these variables to investigate how they coalesce and interconnect within the context of the Qatar World Cup 2022 Quantitative research design and survey method were employed to gather data from a diverse sample of individuals directly involved in or affected by the World Cup 2022 in Qatar. A convenience sample was selected that included event organizers, local communities, businesses, attendees, government officials, and civil society representatives. Variables were measured using previous literature, and online surveys were distributed using a Likert 5-point scale. Two hundred questionnaires were distributed with 163 responses. Quantitative analysis was performed to investigate the direct and indirect effects using SmartPLS 4.0. The results revealed that effective governance positively impacts well-structured planning processes and shapes event successes. While it may influence risk reduction and zero-waste initiatives, the relationships are weaker, requiring further exploration. The indirect impact analysis emphasizes the influence of governance on planning, risk reduction, zero waste, and sustainability outcomes. This study highlights the importance of effective governance for shaping well-structured planning processes that result in risk reduction and sustainability outcomes. Recommendations include increased transparency in decision making, strengthened legal frameworks, and interdisciplinary planning approaches.