After months of debate about the wisdom of holding the 2022 World Cup football tournament in Qatar during the height of summer, FIFA’s medical chief has announced that he is not thrilled with the idea. Michel D’Hooghe told The Associated Press that while he has received strong assurances that the solar-powered stadiums and training facilities will be climate controlled, D’Hooghe expressed concern for the thousands of fans who will have to contend with “elevated” temperatures.
’Personally, I think it would be a good thing if we could play this World Cup in better temperatures than in full summer in Qatar,” D’Hooghe said.
FIFA President Sepp Blatter called the dilemma “a problem without a solution” after the medical team met recently in Belgium to determine whether holding the tournament in June would pose a health threat to athletes and fans, according to AP.
Jerome Valcke, the Secretary General of FIFA. said prior to the meeting that the tournament may have to be rescheduled during cooler months if the medical committee deems it necessary.
The athletes will probably be fine, but the spectators will have to travel between cities in temperatures that even locals are unable to withstand. Ask anybody who has been to the Gulf countries in the dead of summer and almost all of them are bound to complaint hat the heat is usually so oppressive it is difficult to even walk a block to fetch groceries.
On the surface it doesn’t seem like such a big deal. Just rearrange the schedule, right? Unfortunately the situation is more complicated than that.
Football clubs around the globe have set schedules that have existed for as long as the sport – more or less – so moving the event to winter would entail an enormous reshuffle.
That being said, FIFA has another nine years to figure it out.
Meanwhile, although the debate will continue and most believe that Qatar should make the decision, FIFA is in no hurry to make any firm commitments either way.
Which is probably a good thing, because who knows what impact climate change will have on the event as it draws near.
Author: Tafline Laylin
As a tour leader who led “eco-friendly” camping trips throughout North America, Tafline soon realized that she was instead leaving behind a trail of gas fumes, plastic bottles and Pringles. In fact, wherever she traveled – whether it was Viet Nam or South Africa or England – it became clear how inefficiently the mandate to re-think our consumer culture is reaching the general public. Born in Iran, raised in South Africa and the United States, she currently splits her time between Africa and the Middle East. Tafline can be reached at tafline (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
It is well documented and reported that the bid
was for a summer tournament. Secondly, even Australia had asked for bidding for
a winter tournament, but declined by Blatter. Thirdly, even the Qatar bid has
included measures to overcome the heat problem in his country in summer. Then
how come the successful bidder, Qatar, can change. How come the health problem
is an issue as there is air-conditioning provision in Qatar’s bid. If Qatar
submits an official changing proposal then it means Qatar admits his proposal
of using air-conditioning system to overcome their extreme weather is not
workable. That is to say that once FIFA receives Qatar’s application, FIFA can
cancel legitimately his offer of the holding right to Qatar. Then there should
be a re-bidding process again, or award the right to the runner up, USA. On the
other hand, should FIFA accepts this kind of changing proposal then all other
bidders (Japan, Korea, Australia & USA) can start their sue procedure
against the decision made by FIFA.
No one
says that there is a need to change to winter. Only that Platini keeps saying
it. Even Qatar keeps saying that they can overcome the heat problem with
air-conditioning systems. So, why this Platini keeps calling for a change?
Would Mr Platini stop calling for a change and let the case settle? Read the
news from Qatar or Saudi Arabia today.
No one says that there is a need to change to winter. Only that Platini keeps saying it. Even Qatar keeps to say that they can overcome the heat problem with air-conditioning systems. So, why this Platini keeps calling for a change? Would Mr Platini stop calling for a change and let the case settle? Read the news from Qatar or Saudi Arabia today.