Qatar promises perfect conditions for players
Reuters - Wednesday 01 December 2010, 16:02
ZURICH - Qatar used its final presentation
to FIFA's executive committee to promise ideal conditions for
players to perform at their best in a World Cup and also for
fans to be able to watch two matches a day.
Leaders of the Qatari bid to host the 2022 World Cup offered
reassurance on Wednesday that scorching summer temperatures
would not be a problem thanks to air-conditioned stadiums.
The lack of travelling would also help, representatives said
on the eve of Thursday's vote, when Qatar's compact bid will be
up against Australia, South Korea, the United States and Japan.
"To produce their best, players need the best conditions,"
said former Mexico, United States, China, Nigeria and Costa Rica
coach Bora Milutinovic. "There's nothing better than to play,
train and relax in the same place."
"The long distances reduce the standard of matches by
tiredness. In Qatar it is not necessary to travel. Conditions
are ideal for the players to produce their best effort."
Hassan Al-Thawadi, CEO of the Qatar bid, said air
conditioned stadiums would protect fans and players from the
blistering heat and would also help football in other countries
with high temperatures.
"All our stadiums, training sites and fan zones will be at
27 degrees Celsius, all solar-powered and 100 percent carbon
neutral," he said. "The application for this technology goes far
beyond stadiums.
"Heat will not be an issue whatever the climate and we want
this to be a global lasting legacy," he said, adding that the
stadiums could be dismantled and transported for use by poorer
nations after the tournament.