By Andrew Warshaw
March 22 – Local organisers of the 2022 Qatar World Cup, having listened to claims and counter-claims over whether to switch the tournament from summer to winter, have responded by saying they would be willing to host at either time but still have a preference for summer.
After a week of being plunged back in the spotlight without having actually entered the debate, the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee issued a statement hoping to shed some reality on a dialogue that shows no sign of slowing down.
“Concerning the timing of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, we have always reiterated that we bid on the parameters that we would host in the summer of 2022,” the statement said.
“Various figures from the world of football have raised preferences for hosting in the winter. We are ready to host the World Cup in summer or winter. Our planning isn’t affected either way…”
FIFA president Sepp Blatter said on Thursday that any request to change the event to cooler months would have to come from Qatar, where temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius in June and July. Any change could lead to a major headache among European leagues while the qualifying programme for the World Cup would have to start and finish six months earlier.
Organisers said they had committed “considerable resources” during the bidding process to proving that its revolutionary cooling technology would work in stadiums, training grounds and fan zones. “The application of this technology is not limited to stadiums or sports venues. It can be applied in public spaces, so outdoor life can be enjoyed all year round, regardless of climate,” the statement said.
With some reports going as far as to speculate Qatar could be stripped of host status – a highly unlikely scenario – the Gulf state was at pains to play up its credentials. “Football is the most popular sport in the Middle East and the people of our region are excited to witness history being made in their part of the world. We are committed to delivering on the promises we made to FIFA and the international football community through staging a successful FIFA World Cup in 2022 – not only on the pitch, but also off the pitch – on social, human and cultural levels.”
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