FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar
In the end, there were five bids for the 2022 FIFA World Cup: Australia, Japan, Qatar, South Korea and the United States. The twenty-two member FIFA Executive Committee convened in Zürich on 2 December 2010 to vote to select the hosts of both tournaments. Two FIFA executive committee members were suspended before the vote in relation to allegations of corruption regarding their votes. The decision to host the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, which was graded as having “high operational risk”, generated criticism from media commentators, LGBT rights groups and American, Australian and English officials.
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Qatar is just 10 years away from hosting the world’s leading sporting event, the 2022 World Cup. However, the question posed by experts at this juncture is, whether Qatar is going too slow in its World Cup preparations, given the huge infrastructure projects that it has on its agenda. Experts are pointing out to the fact that a well-developed country such as Germany, required more than 10 years to ready the stage for the 2006 World Cup.
Therefore, a nation such as Qatar, given its climatic conditions and geographical features, may require more time to complete the huge infrastructure projects, else, Qatar will have to really pace up its actions, they argue.
With the clock already ticking, the countdown has begun for Qatar, and ten years is not too far away. Further, Qatar will also have to host the FIFA Confederation Match one year prior to the World Cup, pointed out a project consultant from one of the globally leading firms.
In comparison to the earlier host countries, the infrastructure gap in Qatar is huge and is far from ideal. Hence an early preparation is vital for Qatar, particularly for expansion of its public transportation network. One of the sticking point here is the delay in launch of rail network, which is a major component for this mega event to be successful.
Speaking about the 2022 World Cup preparations, Jad Achkar, the Operations Director of Decorelle, leading project consultancy firm, said that with ten years in hand before the event, there is no need to hurry up and complete the projects within five years time, and continue maintaining these projects for the next few years, as it demands huge money.
Pointing out to the South Africa playing host to 2010 World Cup, he said that the South Africa had just completed the projects in time for the World Cup. Expressing confidence in Qatar hosting the World Cup, Jad also pointed out that Qatar had kept up its timely commitment, when the country showcased one of the best Asian Games in its history.
Qatar should be in a position to welcome nearly two to four million visitors, accommodate all teams and dignitaries during the month-long competition, and ensure that they can travel with ease and speed around the country. Majority of visitors may depend on buses, and Jad expressed confidence that Qatar will be able to accommodate the growing number of buses before the event.
Ashghal has already embarked on $20bn project works, with plans to launch 22 major road projects, including the ‘Smart Transportation System’ that form part of its five year plan. On completion, motorists can easily commute between Al Khor and New Doha International Airport in 35 minutes.
Proposed FIFA World Cup 2022 Stadiums
Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup
Qatar won the bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, and has become the first Middle Eastern country to host the World Cup soccer. Qatar won the bid, despite stiff competition from United States, Australia, South Korea and Japan to host one of the major sporting events in the world. Qatar’s victory has already sent its stock market soaring.
Qatar is also second in line with Russia, which already won the bid to host the next world cup in Moscow.
The FIFA President, Sepp Blatter, announced that the 22 executive committee members had voted to award the 2022 tournament to Qatar, a country with a population of only 1.7mn. Qatar had appealed to FIFA to take a “bold gamble” by taking the World Cup to a region, where football is popular, and is growing to be a world player in global sport.
Qatar’s victory to host the cup is also considered as the victory of Mohammed Bin Hammam, the FIFA executive member and President of Asia Football Confederation, the favourite to succeed Blatter.
Qatar had convinced FIFA voters that it would ensure that the blistering heat will not be an issue, said Hassan Al-Thawadi, Chief Executive Officer, Qatar 2022 World Cup. Qatar has committed to having all its 12 stadia fully air-conditioned, including the ones that are “open-air”. All the soccer stadiums will harness the power of sun’s rays to offer a cool environment for fans and players by convering solar energy into electricity, which will be then used to cool the stadium.
When there are no games happening in the place, the solar installations at the stadia will export energy onto the power grid. During matches, the stadia will draw energy from the grid. This is the basis for the “carbon-neutrality” of the stadiums.
The UAE Foreign Minister, Shaikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan also expressed pleasure on hearing the news, and told reporters that Gulf has immense scope to share the Middle Eastern culture and heritage with European nations. This will bring about exchange of views and culture between the two continents.
There will be new stadiums, sports clubs, hotels and other entertainment centers across Qatar. The entire nation will be developed in several ways, and the entire economic infrastructure of Qatar will be upgraded and polished, as new companies will launch their products to make the world cup more glamorous and attractive.
Qatar’s winning the bid to host the FIFA 2022 World Cup soccar will also boost the infrastructure projects happening in the country, estimated to be worth more than $100bn, based on public-private partnerships model, it has been announced. The Qatari planners have already had a meeting and decided to launch a staggering 200projects in several areas towards the first quarter of next year, as these ventures would head-start the preparations for 2022 World Cup.
Qatar’s historic World Cup bid also includes plan to offer green technology and to contribute stadiums to poor nations. Qatar’s 2022 World Cup will be another shining example of Qatar’s strong tradition of generous hospitality and effective event management. Qatar is no-doubt on the growth path, and this honour will bring in more economic development and growth.
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