Qatar may be sharing matches with neighbors
Was this part of their proposal?
The prez says it was an idea in the Aussie bid (Aussies proposed to share a few matches with New Zealand). So they took an idea from the Aussie bid and may now apply it to the Qatar bid?
Was this part of their proposal?
The prez says it was an idea in the Aussie bid (Aussies proposed to share a few matches with New Zealand). So they took an idea from the Aussie bid and may now apply it to the Qatar bid?
Qatar may be sharing World Cup matches with neighbors
Friday, December 10, 2010
The Record
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
PARIS — Qatar's neighboring countries could host games at the 2022 World Cup, according to FIFA president Sepp Blatter.
Qatar was designated the 2022 World Cup host last week, despite concerns the intense heat poses a serious health risk if the tournament is played in summer.
In an interview with sports daily L'Equipe on Thursday, Blatter said Australia's 2022 World Cup bid proposed some matches could be held in New Zealand, and Qatar could have neighboring countries host games. He didn't say which countries.
"Australia, in its candidacy bid, proposed to give several matches to New Zealand," Blatter told L'Equipe.
"I think it could be the same in Qatar and that some matches could take place in nearby countries."
Blatter reiterated that FIFA was right to award Qatar the World Cup because soccer needs to expand from its traditional strongholds.
"With Qatar, we are opening football to a new world and a new culture," Blatter said.
"The Arab world, which has tried several times — with Morocco or Egypt for example — to host the World Cup, could legitimately lay claim to hosting this."
Qatar also beat out the United States, Japan and South Korea.
Qatar has huge financial means to ensure a state-of-the art cooling system in stadiums and training grounds to combat desert heat.
Ruled by the Al Thani family, the tiny Gulf nation has committed $42.9 billion for infrastructure upgrades and $4 billion to build nine stadiums and renovate three others. All the stadiums plan to keep temperatures at about 81 degrees.
Blatter says money was not a primary motivation for awarding the event to Qatar.
"If we had wanted to make money, we would have gone to the United States," Blatter said.
"You must not forget that they [Qatar] have been making efforts for a while and have already hosted FIFA competitions" like the under-20 World Cup
Last edited by menalawyerguy on Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:12 pm; edited 1 time in total
