Qatar’s Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy has chosen Platinum TE Paspalum as the playing surface for all stadiums and training sites hosting the November 2022 event.
In a joint venture, Aspire Sports Turf of Qatar and international sports turf consulting giant STRI conducted extensive research on which to base their selection. Varieties of seashore Paspalum, Bermudagrass, and Zoysia turfgrasses were tested at multiple sites. Platinum TE Paspalum proved to be the most durable and shade tolerant of the turfgrasses tested, outperforming the other varieties in recovery as well. Establishment and grow-in from stolons were also quicker with the Platinum TE.
Grassing has begun at multiple stadiums and training facilities. To ensure genetic purity and the highest quality, the Platinum TE Paspalum being utilized is licensed and certified plant material from global turfgrass supplier Atlas Turf International. Grassing will continue as the remaining facilities are completed over the next two years.
“For over a decade, Platinum TE Paspalum has performed consistently well for projects in the Middle East,” said Atlas Turf president John Holmes. “It’s not surprising that it was singled out as the top performer and ultimately selected for Qatar 2022. In the testing, Platinum TE exhibited stronger tensile strength, greater ability to grow in low light conditions, and rapid recovery from injury.”
Platinum TE’s many key characteristics include a darker green color for exceptional striping, better density for outstanding ball setup, and superior tolerance to low light intensity conditions.
