DOHA: The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy has reassured that Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup 2022, despite doubts raised by Dr Theo Zwanziger, the German member on the executive committee of FIFA.
In an interview with Sport Bild Plus magazine, Zwanziger had said that “I think that at the end of the day the 2022 World Cup will not take place in Qatar”. He cited high summer temperatures as the reason Qatar would lose the World Cup.
Reacting to Zwanziger’s comments, Nasser Al Khater, Executive Director of Communications and Marketing at the Supreme Committee, said that it reflected his personal opinion and not of FIFA.
“The only question now is WHEN not IF. Summer or winter, we will be ready,” said Al Khater in a statement yesterday.
“We have proven that a FIFA World Cup in Qatar in the summer is possible with state-of-the-art cooling technology. We have demonstrated our cooling works in outdoor areas beyond stadiums. This summer we welcomed fans in Doha to an open-air Brazil 2014 Fan Zone with temperatures cooled to a comfortable 22 degrees Celsius,” he added.
Al Khater further said that “the evolution of environment-friendly cooling technologies is an important legacy for our nation, region and for countries with similar climates, promising to expand the reach of major sporting events to countries where it was never thought possible before”
In an interview with Die Welt newspaper, Hassan Al Thawadi, Secretary-General of the Qatar 2022 Organising Committee, said he was “sure that the 2022 World Cup will take place in Qatar”.
“No, I’m not worried,” he said. “Firstly because there’s no basis to lose the World Cup. And secondly because it’s the first World Cup in the Middle East.
“When people think of this region, it’s rather in terms of conflict. The World Cup will be an occasion to unite peoples. It will leave a positive heritage.”
“As Mr Zwanziger himself says, it’s his personal opinion,” a FIFA spokesman responded to AFP subsidiary SID when asked about the German’s statement.
Zwanziger’s remarks yesterday evoked strong reactions on Qatari social networking sites.
“The most important thing is that doubts about hosting the World Cup is now eliminated and this decision is a tribute to Qatar haters,” read a comment on a popular website. “We will host the World Cup despite the hate campaign,” wrote another.
“Probably the World Cup will be in winter and this kind of news is just a prelude to the final decision,” was another comment.
“What about us living in this temperature and people from many other countries with different climates are also living here,” wrote another.
The Peninsula
