Up to 100,000 people will be needed to run the 2022 Fifa World Cup, Nigel Rushman told the MEED Sports Business Forum in Doha this morning.

Rushman said that there will probably need to be about 40,000 volunteers as well to help run the 30-day event. Rushman is founder of Rushmans event management business and was a member of the team behind Qatar’s successful bid for the 2022 Fifa World Cup Finals.

Rushman said that events of a similar scale have required huge numbers of temporary workers. “The London Olympics will employ about 100,000 paid employees,” Rushman said. “That does not include 60,000 volunteers.”

“Almost all countries have had to buy sports event management skills,” Rushman said. “The advantage that Qatar has is that it has the time to build a true events business here. “

The Sports Business Forum was opened with a keynote speech from Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary general of the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee.