How Qatar won the 2022 bid?
Amidst much joy and celebration, in Qatar and across the Middle East; it was announced on 2nd December 2010 that Qatar will host the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Qatar will be the first Arab state to host the FIFA World Cup. Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani, son of the the former Emir of Qatar, was the chairman of the bid committee.
The State of Qatar won the support of several member states of the Arab League to host the tournament.
FIFA president said in April 2010: “The Arabic world deserves a World Cup. They have 22 countries and have not had any opportunity to organize the tournament.”
“When I was first in Qatar there were 400,000 people here and now there are 1.6 million. In terms of infrastructure, when you are able to organise the Asian Games (in 2006) with more than 30 events for men and women, then that is not in question,” he said, praising the progress that the country achieved.
Although, this bid has since been the subject of much controversy, it must be said that investigation on the matter has thus far yielded no proof sufficient to indicate any malpractice and the World must attest to the fact that Qatar did win the bid fair and square.
Seasonal Confusion…
The 2022 world cup will NOT be held during the summer in Qatar. No doubt it might be switched to the winter if it happens here.
Qatar World Cup Controversy
Working against the bid was the difficulty of playing a summer tournament in the Middle Eastern country, where the temperature raises up to 50 C. In response to this problem Qatar proposed Stadium with controlled temperature. Cooling techniques will be able to bring the temperatures to 25 degrees Celsius which would be more convenient.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter later said they have made a mistake in awarding the 2022 World Cup to Qatar. Greg Dyke, Football Association chairman also said that it is impossible to play in Qatar in summer and wants the tournament to switch to winter.
But European football leagues were against the winter switch of the tournament as it affects their leagues.
Football Federation Australia (FFA) chairman Frank Lowy has called for compensations to be given to failed world cup bidders, if the 2022 World Cup is moved to the winter.
Responding to Lowy’s call, FIFA has said there was no chance that Australia or other unsuccessful bidders would be compensated if the switch was made. FIFA argued that all bidders had to accept that there could be a change to the schedule at Fifa’s order.
At last, Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) have backed the winter switch of the tournament on Thursday. However there could be clashes over whether the tournament is to be held in January 2022 or November or December of that year. FIFA would prefer November or December so that it does not clash with the winter Olympics. Uefa would prefer January so that it would not affect the Champions League. While British associations asked to ensure that their Christmas and New Year fixtures are protected for domestic football.
Now it is almost sure that football’s world governing body, FIFA’s executive committee, which will make the final decision, will alter the timing of 2022 world cup to the winter at its meeting next month.
Qatar’s efforts to host world cup
Qatar has paved the way for never ending development opportunities, especially in construction field. The development projects include US$35 billion rail plans, 174 hotels with over 74,000 hotel rooms, the US$ 4 billion Qatar-Bahrain causeway, US$ 20 billion project on building and expanding roads. As it enters a critical phase of preparations to host FIFA World Cup in 2022, new roads and metro systems have been constructing in the country and airport expansion is underway. Qatar Tourism Authority plans to invest about $20 billion on tourism infrastructure.
State of Qatar is to construct 9 new stadiums for 2022 world cup and renovate 3, with the 12 venues divided among 7 cities- Al-Daayen, Al-Khor, Al-Rayyan, Al-Shamal, Al-Wakrah, Doha and Umm Slal. The first five planned stadia for the 2022 World Cup were opened in March 2010. Here are the details of the 2022 stadia.
Al-Gharafa Stadium
Host city :
Al-Rayyan
Owner/investors :
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned :
Group matches
Al-Khor Stadium
Host city :
Al-Khor
Owner/investors :
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned:
Group matches, round of 16
Al-Rayyan Stadium
Host city :
Al-Rayyan
Owner/investors :
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned :
Group matches
Al-Shamal Stadium
Host city :
Al-Shamal
Owner/investors :
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned :
Group matches
Al-Wakrah Stadium
Host city :
Al-Wakrah
Owner/investors:
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned:
Group matches, round of 16
Doha Port Stadium
Host city :
Doha
Owner/investors:
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned :
Group matches, round of 16, quarter-finals
Education city stadium
Host city :
Al-Rayyan
Owner/investors:
Qatar Foundation / Government
Matches planned:
Group matches, round of 16
Khalifa International stadium
Host city :
Al-Rayyan
Owner/investors:
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned:
Group matches, round of 16, quarter-finals, semi-finals
Lusail Iconic Stadium
Host city :
Al-Daayen
Owner/investors :
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned
Opening match, group matches, round of 16, quarter final, semi-final, final
Qatar University Stadium
Host city :
Doha
Owner/investors :
Qatar University / Government
Matches planned:
Group matches, round of 16
Sports City stadium
Host city :
Doha
Owner/investors :
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned:
Group matches, 3rd place playoff
Umm Slal Stadium
Host city :
Umm Slal
Owner/investors:
Qatar Olympic Committee / Government
Matches planned:
Group matches, round of 16, quarter-finals
2022 effect on Qatar’s progress
The award of hosting 2022 world cup gave Qatar a focus for massive development. Qatar National Vision 2030 and programs like Q2022 are aims at leaving a heritage for the country in terms of football, infrastructure and economic development.
Qatar was the third most active GCC construction market in the last year, with contracts at cost of $10.4 billion have granted. Government’s strategy boosts sustainable tourism. It focuses on attracting more tourists and visitors.
Doha now becomes an important sporting and cultural center in the Middle East. Projects such as the Qatar-Bahrain causeway will help to enhance regional tourist arrivals in the country.
Tourism sector growth also makes opportunities for the development of commercial units, like different shopping malls across the country.
The 2022 World Cup bid is a very small part of country’s growth into international level. Qatar has achieved very large influence in the world in three years. With summer or winter event, with or without the World Cup Qatar construction industry will continue to boom and the country will go on to achieve the world influence.
Image Courtesy : allvoices.com