Reasons for potential failure of the 2022 Qatari world cup

[Mayfair Smooth]

I found myself in Doha recently. For a country set to host the world’s biggest sporting event (and the world’s most epic party) in 10 years’ time, my first impression was that it might want to chivy things along. Ignoring the fact that there aren’t enough stadiums or hotels, even something as simple as getting around town is an almighty task. Case in point: I am staying at a very nice five-star hotel, with a private beach, swimming pool and spa, plus a range of impressive restaurants. But if I want to visit a shopping mall, which the concierge presented to me as one of three options when I asked for “must-do” activities, I’m faced with an issue. I ask him to call me a taxi. “I will call, sir, but maybe they will not come,” he says. It seems taxis are a rarity in Doha, and during my entire stay, I saw very few.


The other option is to pay for a hotel limo -- as there is no public transport either, which should prove interesting when there are suddenly tens of thousands of pedestrians milling around -- but prices are steep. Suggest that you might walk, and be met with a look of horror as people try to stop you from venturing into the 40-degree Celsius heat. Perhaps that is why my concierge’s other must-do activities seemed to be inside air-conditioned buildings. “You can go to the museum,” he said. I explained I was here for several days and would need more to occupy my time, which prompted his third, very inspired idea: “You could visit another hotel, sir.”

Seeing as I didn’t have many options, I decided to stick with the first choice: the shopping mall.

On my journey there, I could see that Doha is much smaller than its neighbor, Dubai. Similar elements are in place -- grand five-star hotels, the shopping centres, of course, and a developing skyline as bigger office towers are created to accommodate growing business -- but they are in much smaller supply, with bigger distances between each of them. The struggle between past and future is very much evident in Doha; there are mosques and historic souks that highlight religion and tradition, and a reluctance to welcome in more of what its foreign workforce might enjoy, like alcohol.

Going for a drink in Doha is quite an experience, as I discovered later on my first evening. Upon attempting to enter my hotel bar, I was stopped at the door. “Passport?” said the tall gentleman wearing a suit. At first I joked with him. “Why, where am I going?” I asked. I wasn’t joking two minutes later when I was back in my room looking for it. Apparently the authorities like to keep track of exactly who is drinking, so passport scans are commonplace. Like Dubai, alcohol in Doha is only available in hotels, although the attitude here is much stricter.

It’s as if the message is not to drink, which makes you wonder what the World Cup fans might think in 2022. Even the Pearl Qatar, a man-made island on Doha’s shoreline, similar to Dubai’s Palm, was recently dealt a blow regarding its alcohol laws. Previously, offshore independent restaurants could open here and serve alcohol. It prompted the development of an area very different from the rest of Doha, with a vibrant outdoor nightlife. However, this has now changed, with the Pearl suddenly falling under the same ruling as everywhere else. Many restaurants have even had to close due to the drop in business. The Pearl could be a decent tourist attraction for the city, but now there is little to see when you get there.

With strict drinking laws and a current lack of things to see, Doha has a ways to go before it could be considered anything more than a destination for shopping. This made me wonder what it might actually be like when 2022 finally arrives. There is a lot of work to be done, and not just in terms of physical construction. The World Cup is a global event, and this needs to be a city that can welcome and entertain visitors from all over. Becoming that will be more of a challenge than winning the rights to host the event itself. Let’s hope Doha has realised what it has signed itself up for

http://uk.askmen.com/fine_living/tra...ting-doha.html

[quality]

FIFA will change their laws and get it running smoothly. It's still a shit place for a World Cup though, especially if its in winter.

[Naruto]

theyve got 6 years to fix it..

[Mayfair Smooth]

FIFA will change their laws and get it running smoothly. It's still a shit place for a World Cup though, especially if its in winter.

nah its going to be in summer, all the stadiums will have AC, fuck how thats going to work effectively

theyve got 6 years to fix it..

10 actually, i flopped with the title. Though i did say potential failure

[Sean]

theyve got 6 years to fix it..

I think more destroy it and rebuild the whole place would be the best option

[Deagle]

World Cup is in 10 years though, and they have a fuck load of money so it's cool.

[CatchACat]

nah its going to be in summer, all the stadiums will have AC, fuck how thats going to work effectively



10 actually, i flopped with the title. Though i did say potential failure

That wont work, wtf are they actually doing that?

Will be so fucking noisy, as they will need lots of big fans, lots of duct work and will cost a fucking fortune, especially if they places are enclosed.

[NSF]

Cant wait for this to flop tbh

[Mayfair Smooth]

That wont work, wtf are they actually doing that?

Will be so fucking noisy, as they will need lots of big fans, lots of duct work and will cost a fucking fortune, especially if they places are enclosed.

"Each of the five stadiums will harness the power of the suns rays to provide a cool environment for players and fans by converting solar energy into electricity that will then be used to cool both fans and players at the stadiums. When games are not taking place, the solar installations at the stadiums will export energy onto the power grid. During matches, the stadiums will draw energy from the grid. This is the basis for the stadiums’ carbon-neutrality. Along with the stadiums, we plan to make the cooling technologies we’ve developed available to other countries in hot climates, so that they too can host major sporting events." -qatar world cup website

"total acclimation [to the Qatari climate] is impossible."-Qatari doctor

[CatchACat]

"Each of the five stadiums will harness the power of the suns rays to provide a cool environment for players and fans by converting solar energy into electricity that will then be used to cool both fans and players at the stadiums. When games are not taking place, the solar installations at the stadiums will export energy onto the power grid. During matches, the stadiums will draw energy from the grid. This is the basis for the stadiums’ carbon-neutrality. Along with the stadiums, we plan to make the cooling technologies we’ve developed available to other countries in hot climates, so that they too can host major sporting events." -qatar world cup website

"total acclimation [to the Qatari climate] is impossible."-Qatari doctor

Sounds interesting, these things never work as well as they sound though. Will be dubious till it works.

[Danielson]

air con doesn't work in the open yet alone football stadiums

[Mayfair Smooth]

air con doesn't work in the open yet alone football stadiums

yeah fuck knows, i presume this will mean all stadiums will have roofs

[Danielson]

yeah but the problem with industrial air con is it spreads germs too - so 40,000 people under a closed roof with a super air con unit spreading germs....?

[RealOnRoad]

Brazil 2014 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

[EA]

Brazil 2014 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

.

Looking to go out there with no intention of watching any football.

[Parrr]

I think the whole point of giving countries world cups is for groups of fans and tourists to go and enjoy the atmosphere and the difference in culture. So as long as they sort out the stadiums/ transport and hotels the rest is all part of the experience tbh

obviously they will need to touch up on a few things and make the place look decent aswell.