Doha, February 14 (QNA) - The AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 witnessed the implementation of comprehensive transport and communications measures to enable crowds of fans to move easily to and from stadiums and other major sites in the tournament, which Doha hosted from Jan. 12 to Feb. 10.

These measures came by relying on modern transportation infrastructure, which included Doha Metro services and rapid transit buses, which allowed fans to benefit from the close distances in the tournament's 18th edition.

According to a report issued by the tournament organizing committee, fans were able to directly reach five of the nine stadiums that hosted the tournament via the metro station network, while the rest of the stadiums were connected by rapid bus service from the nearest metro station. The local organizing committee, in cooperation with the Ministry of Transport, provided a free daily ticket to use the Doha Metro for ticket holders on match days to provide a smooth and comfortable transportation experience for everyone.

Mobility and Logistics Deputy Executive Director at the Local Organizing Committee for the AFC Asian Cup Ahmed Al Binali said that the plans that were drawn up for transport and communication were precise and accurate, which contributed to supporting the efforts for making the continental sporting event a success.

Al Binali added that the fans are considered the beating heart of the tournament, and everyone was keen to provide them with a comfortable and smooth transportation experience to and from the stadiums. He noted that thanks to the modern transportation infrastructure in the State of Qatar, the organizing committee managed to provide an easy transportation experience for the fans, the participating teams, and all partners in the Asian tournament.

The tournament saw more than 823,000 people using the Doha Metro services to the stadiums, while 3,354 buses participated in transporting 212,407 fans to the stadiums. Park and ride options were also available to reach the stadiums and the bus fleet included 300 electric buses, in line with the local organizing committee's sustainability strategy.

The Doha Metro played a pivotal role in transporting fans during the continental event, and the network of metro stations provided exceptional operational performance, especially on days that witnessed great demand for matches. From Jan. 12 to Feb.10, the total number of passengers reached 6.22 million passengers, and the number of trips carried out on the metro trains between the stadiums reached 83,358 trips. The Doha Metro saw the full operation of its 110-train fleet.

The tournament was also characterized by easy access for fans with disabilities, in line with the commitment of the local organizing committee to achieve accessible hosting for all fans' categories, as fans were received upon their arrival to the stadiums by more than 3,000 employees to help guide them to the stadium gates, and wheelchairs were also available along with 25 golf carts in all stadiums to support and assist fans with disabilities.

Special plans have also been developed to facilitate the movement of fans in their own cars, by providing 172,656 parking spots in all stadiums, with a team of employees present to provide assistance and guidance to drivers. Also, designated areas have been provided in all tournament stadiums for taxis (Karwa) and ride-sharing applications. The tournament recorded 9,916 trips by taxi, and 83,432 trips using ride-sharing applications.

In addition to fan transportation services, dedicated services were also provided for each of the 24 teams participating in the AFC Asian Cup Qatar 2023 to ensure quick and comfortable transportation to and from stadiums, training fields, and residences.

In addition, as part of the local organizing committee's children's program, participating children were transported as escorts to players, flag bearers, and football crew members to and from the stadiums on match days.

Qatar hosted the Asian Cup for the third time in its history, achieving a record in hosting the continental championship after achieving successful hosting of the tournament in 1988 and 2011. In the 18th edition of the continental event, 24 of the best teams in Asia competed during 51 matches held at nine stadiums. (QNA)