Indexer
This is Doha, the capital city of Qatar which sits on the Persian Gulf. It is currently hosting the World Athletics Championships and it is also the venue for the next FIFA World Cup, to be held in 2022.
However, there are huge question marks over the suitability of this city and country for hosting these events, and also over how the decisions were taken that have led to this happening.
The World Athletics Championships started on Friday, and there have already been major problems, due to the excessive heat and humidity that the athletes have been experiencing. The women’s marathon was held during the night in the hope that the conditions would not be too oppressive, but the 33 degree heat was far too much for many of the runners, 28 of whom (out of 68 starters) dropped out during the race.
Another downer has been the size of the crowds, in that the stadium has been half-full at best. The local population do not seem to be all that interested in supporting this event.
As for the World Cup in 2022, there has long been talk that it is only taking place in Qatar because of large sums of money changing hands behind the scenes – we all know that Qatar has plenty of money to throw around, and there are therefore many suspicions that a good deal of it ended up in the pockets of the people who made the decision!
The Athletics Championships have already been declared a disaster by some, only two days into the event, and there are huge fears that the World Cup will go the same way.
Money talks, they say. Unfortunately it would appear that this is true, and that nothing else does when it comes to matters like this.
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Question of
Are you suspicious about how these events ended up in Qatar?
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Yes
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No
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Question of
Having you been watching any of the athletics in Doha?
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Yes
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No
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I totally agree with your opinion. Money is the world’s ruler. With money, they can achieve anything and not think about the consequences.
It is also noticeable that the stadium empties when the men’s events are over and there are only female events to come. The women’s 100 metres final was run in an echoing stadium with very few spectators there.
I would argue yes and no is that fair?
Yes, to give the athletes in that temperate zone an advantage. Athletes not from that zone have had many international events that well were based in their zones.
No, because I had to wonder how much money changed hands with FIFA.
Doha is great place and safe as well
But the question is over its suitability for major sporting events. The problem, in the words of a song from “Kiss Me Kate” is that it’s “too darned hot”!
I am convinced that all this happened due to people profiting from large sums of money and I am sorry to find out there are so many problems already.
As in so many cases, the truth will be gained if you “follow the money”.
Doha was chosen as the host of the 2019 World Championship at a secret meeting of the board of the International Athletics Federation. As Carol said, money talk all over the world.
I didn’t know the details, but that seems to be completely believable.
Money seems to talk all over the world.
In such case, I wouldn’t trust the final results because of the weather condition – it shouldn’t be too hot nor too cold.
This is a terrible selection. Running at midnight in what? nearly 100o F? Somebody was bribed. What’s next? Antarctica?