(Doha, Qatar) Sophie Laporte participated in the London and Rio Summer Games. At the Sochi and PyeongChang Winter Games. At the Pan American Games in Toronto. At the Youth Games in Buenos Aires and Lausanne. What else ? She also attended a Copa America in Argentina. Now she is here in Doha for the Soccer World Cup.
Did she win the jackpot at 6/49?
Not even !
Her thing: she has acquired in-depth expertise in the management of sporting events. A fascinating career that takes him from one country to another, depending on the mandates. “I’m always up for going left and right with my bundle,” she tells me.
Sophie has always had an interest in sports. As a teenager, she played tennis at the provincial level. She had talent, but not enough to make a professional career. In order to reach the major leagues, she chose another path. That of studies.
After a bachelor’s degree at HEC Montreal, in 2011, she moved to London. It was only a few months before the London Games. She enrolled in a master’s degree in sports management. His thesis subject: the sale of soccer tickets at the Games. “Then I got involved in the organizing committee of the London Games. I was assigned to the soccer tournament. It was a great gateway. It made me want to do more. »
After the Games, Sophie returned home, where she worked briefly for the Montreal Impact, before joining the Canadian Olympic Committee in an athlete support role. This allowed him to attend four editions of the Olympic Games. A remarkable experience. She then settled in Lausanne, Switzerland, before being approached by FIFA in 2020 to head the team services department.
I didn’t know much about Qatar. I pretty much knew where it was on the map, but that’s it. I thought to myself: why not? I dove.
Sophie Laporte
His department meets the needs of national teams. The range is wide. It goes from booking a hotel to booking a chef. However, there are universal demands.
“An important criterion for all teams is the quality of their training ground. We have a turf management team, which has established turf growth plans according to specific timelines. The teams are also looking for exclusivities, according to the profile of their players. Think of something unique for hosting. Others have very specific needs. Kilos and kilos of ice cream, for example, or tickets to an event. But basically, what countries want is quality infrastructure. And that, Qatar has it. »
PHOTO PROVIDED BY SOPHIE LAPORTE
A piece of advice for those who wish to pursue a career like Sophie’s: learn several languages. “We are looking for people who can communicate with each team in the language of that country. »
She herself speaks four – but not Arabic, the official language of Qatar. “I know the basic words. But in Doha, there are a lot of expatriates. »
Qataris only make up 10% of the population. The others are workers from abroad. “English is therefore a language that can be used in everyday life. Especially in workplaces, where people come from all over the world. »
His term in Qatar is coming to an end. Where will she drop off her backpack after the World Cup? She ignores him. However, she would like to work for the organizing committee of the 2026 Soccer World Cup, which will be presented in Canada, the United States and Mexico. “I don’t know at what level. It will certainly be very different from the Cup in Qatar, but there are lessons that can be applied. The heart would be there. »