New World Cup era as Russia, Qatar bids win
Source: Agencies |
December 3, 2010, Friday
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Print Edition
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FIFA sent the World Cup into uncharted territory last night, handing the 2018 finals to Russia and opting for Qatar in 2022.
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin did not attend the announcement at Zurich, but his country's bid persuaded FIFA's 22 voters to choose it over England, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands.
Qatar brings the World Cup to the smallest host ever but one which has unparalleled financial clout to stage the world's biggest single-sport event. It overcame objections about holding the games in desert heat and asked FIFA to take a "bold gamble."
"We go to new lands," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said.
The United States and Australia had been tipped as favorites alongside Qatar for 2022. Japan and South Korea were also in the running.
After three days of high anxiety when England sent British Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince William and David Beckham for intense lobbying and the United States counted on former President Bill Clinton, none were a match for the novelty promised by Qatar and Russia.
Russia is trusted
After the result was announced, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he was leaving for Zurich to thank FIFA for awarding Russia the right to host the 2018 finals.
"This decision shows that Russia is trusted," Putin said.
Putin, who had complained of unscrupulous competition in the contest, said the decision showed much about Russia's economic and political stability.
"Hurrah! Victory!," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a Twitter post on hearing the FIFA decision.
Meanwhile, Qatar was celebrating being awarded the 2022 World Cup finals.
"Thank you for believing in change," said Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
Qatar will stage a World Cup in and around Doha in a desert summer but promises state-of-the-art technology to cool fans and players alike.
Flush with riches
After the elimination of Australia, Japan and South Korea, it came down to a duel between the United States, promising huge commercial spoils in a key growth market, and the new territory of the Gulf region, still flush with riches despite the global financial crisis.
On hearing the result, Qataris and others immediately started dancing in the streets along Doha's Gulf waterfront. Some blew the vuvuzelas that became synonymous with the World Cup in South Africa.
Qatar had asked FIFA to take a "bold gamble" and insisted the desert nation's extreme heat would not be an issue. Qatar is promising to spend US$50 billion on infrastructure upgrades and US$4 billion to build nine stadiums and renovate three others. No stadium would be more than an hour apart, while many would be dismantled and sections would be sent to poor nations afterwards.
The Middle East has never before hosted a major global sporting event and Qatar's win yesterday will do much to boost the region's global profile, analysts said.
Russia's Prime Minister Vladimir Putin did not attend the announcement at Zurich, but his country's bid persuaded FIFA's 22 voters to choose it over England, Spain-Portugal and Belgium-Netherlands.
Qatar brings the World Cup to the smallest host ever but one which has unparalleled financial clout to stage the world's biggest single-sport event. It overcame objections about holding the games in desert heat and asked FIFA to take a "bold gamble."
"We go to new lands," FIFA President Sepp Blatter said.
The United States and Australia had been tipped as favorites alongside Qatar for 2022. Japan and South Korea were also in the running.
After three days of high anxiety when England sent British Prime Minister David Cameron, Prince William and David Beckham for intense lobbying and the United States counted on former President Bill Clinton, none were a match for the novelty promised by Qatar and Russia.
Russia is trusted
After the result was announced, Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin said he was leaving for Zurich to thank FIFA for awarding Russia the right to host the 2018 finals.
"This decision shows that Russia is trusted," Putin said.
Putin, who had complained of unscrupulous competition in the contest, said the decision showed much about Russia's economic and political stability.
"Hurrah! Victory!," Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said in a Twitter post on hearing the FIFA decision.
Meanwhile, Qatar was celebrating being awarded the 2022 World Cup finals.
"Thank you for believing in change," said Qatar's Emir, Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al-Thani.
Qatar will stage a World Cup in and around Doha in a desert summer but promises state-of-the-art technology to cool fans and players alike.
Flush with riches
After the elimination of Australia, Japan and South Korea, it came down to a duel between the United States, promising huge commercial spoils in a key growth market, and the new territory of the Gulf region, still flush with riches despite the global financial crisis.
On hearing the result, Qataris and others immediately started dancing in the streets along Doha's Gulf waterfront. Some blew the vuvuzelas that became synonymous with the World Cup in South Africa.
Qatar had asked FIFA to take a "bold gamble" and insisted the desert nation's extreme heat would not be an issue. Qatar is promising to spend US$50 billion on infrastructure upgrades and US$4 billion to build nine stadiums and renovate three others. No stadium would be more than an hour apart, while many would be dismantled and sections would be sent to poor nations afterwards.
The Middle East has never before hosted a major global sporting event and Qatar's win yesterday will do much to boost the region's global profile, analysts said.
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