NO HOLLYWOOD ENDING
Qatar 2022 World Cup kicks-off in five-years with organisers insisting it WILL go ahead despite controversy
FIVE years on Tuesday, the World Cup is due to kick-off in Qatar with organisers insisting it WILL go ahead despite the latest major hurdle.
The tournament has already been beset with allegations of corruption and appalling treatment of migrant workers.
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Never mind having to switch the date of the biggest sporting event on the planet from European summer to winter, because of the searing temperatures in the desert state, a move set to cause chaos with domestic league calendars.
As SunSport revealed last year the original plans for 12 stadia have already been scaled down to eight, with the worldwide recession even affecting one of the world's richest countries.
Rows also about whether alcohol can be served in stadia have also exploded - a move likely to not go down well with sponsors.
And a blockade imposed on Qatar in June by Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates over allegations it was supporting terrorism has made relations in the gas-rich country worse.
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Saudi Arabia has closed its land border with Qatar, while all four countries have cut air and sea links with the kingdom.
And Dubai’s head of general security has even gone so far as to suggest that the blockade would be lifted if Qatar SURRENDERED the World Cup or at the very least share it across the region.
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But Hassan al-Thawadi, secretary general of the Qatar 2022 supreme committee, insists: "Of course there are issues.
“But we refuse to have this World Cup used as political pawn or a political tool because we believe in separating politics from sports.
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Qatar's controversial stadiums
Lusail Stadium, Lusail
- 15km north of Doha; to be completed in 2021
- Capacity 80,000
- Designed by Lord Foster, the British architect, it will host the opening game and the final.
Khalifa International Stadium, Doha
- Completed May 2017
- Capacity 40,000
- Venue for the 2019 athletics world championships, will host matches up to the quarter-finals.
Al-Bayt Stadium, Al-Khor
- 40km north of Doha; to be completed in 2019
- Capacity 60,000
- Includes 28,000 “demountable” seats in the top tier that will be donated to developing nations after the tournament.
Al-Wakrah Stadium, Al-Wakrah
- 16km south of Doha; to be completed in 2018
- Capacity 40,000
- Designed by the late Dame Hadid, who designed the London 2012 Olympic Aquatics Centre.
Al-Rayyan Stadium, Al-Rayyan
- 17km west of Doha; to be completed in 2019
- Capacity 40,000
- Will host matches up to quarter-finals, will then host Al-Rayyan, the local club side.
Al-Thumama Stadium, Doha
- To be completed in 2020
- Capacity 40,000
- Will host matches up to quarter-finals, design is based on the gahfiya skullcap.
Qatar Foundation Stadium, Doha
- To be completed 2019
- Capacity 40,000
- Will host matches up to quarter-finals and will be part of an “Education City” for university students.
Ras Abu Aboud Stadium, Doha
- To be completed in 2020
- Capacity 40,000
- Design — by Populous, who worked on Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium — is yet to be finalised.
“I hope that the blockading nations see reason to be able to participate and join for the sake of the region benefiting out of this World Cup.”
In terms of booze being served in public areas he said: "Qatar is not France or Italy.
“The fans are not going to be hundreds of miles apart, everyone is going to be concentrated in a 60km diameter, it’s not a big space.
“If there is freely available alcohol and rivalry, it could get difficult. We see a very different demographic — a lot more Asians and from this region.
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"The intention to create doubt regarding the tournament, while attempting to cause resentment amongst Qatari citizens and anxiety amongst foreign businesses and residents, is as transparent as it is laughable.
"There is absolutely no risk to the future of the first World Cup in the Middle East."
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