The regional blockade on Qatar poses “no risk” to the 2022 World Cup going ahead, the tournament head said on Friday, maintaining that logistical obstacles are being overcome and building work is continuing with only “minimal” cost increases.
The energy-rich nation’s land border and its air and sea routes have been closed off for four months since Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates launched an economic boycott. It has forced World Cup organizers to find alternative sources for materials to complete the venues being used by the region’s first major soccer tournament.
“We have come under criticism and attack over the years, but we have always faced our critics,” Qatar World Cup Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy secretary-general Hassan al-Thawadi said. “Our projects are going ahead as scheduled. This [blockade] is no risk in relation to the hosting of the World Cup.”
The diplomatic crisis that has torn apart the Gulf Cooperation Council stems from allegations Qatar supports for extremist groups in the region, charges denied by Doha.
When Qatar’s sole land border with Saudi Arabia was closed and sea traffic cut off, World Cup organizers were forced to instigate their “Plan B,” including bringing in supplies from Turkey.
The Qataris express confidence FIFA is not exploring a “Plan B” of its own for an alternate 2022 host.
“Every project has contingency plans and we have had contingency plans in place from the very start,” al-Thawadi said in an interview during a visit to London to attend a summit staged by the Doha-based sports organization, Aspire Academy. “Once the blockade came into play we contacted the main contractors, we put in place alternative supply chains, we sourced alternative materials from alternate suppliers.”
Only the Khalifa International Stadium, which will also host the IAAF World Championships in 2019, has been completed. Qatar is building another seven stadiums for use by 32 teams at the tournament in five years.
“I’m very happy to say that our project scale is on time and there is no significant impact on our projects,” al-Thawadi said. “As of today we haven’t seen a significant impact on the cost. There might have been some minimal increase in terms of establishing alternative supply chains, but these have been absorbed very, very quickly and been normalized as these supply chains have been put in place.”
Qatar is investing more than US$150 billion on infrastructure to handle the World Cup in the tiny desert nation. Under pressure from activists, Qatar has been compelled to raise living standards and worker rights for the large migrant workforce being relied on to construct venues.
Organizers are “always improving” worker welfare standards, al-Thawadi said.
Qatar has also staved off calls for the country to be stripped of the World Cup after facing investigations into the conduct of its bid.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen go into today’s match at TSG 1899 Hoffenheim stung from their first league defeat in 16 months. Leverkusen were beaten 3-2 at home by RB Leipzig before the international break, the first loss since May last year for the reigning league and cup champions. While any defeat, particularly against a likely title rival, would have disappointed coach Xabi Alonso, the way in which it happened would be most concerning. Just as they did in the Supercup against VfB Stuttgart and in the league opener to Borussia Moenchengladbach, Leverkusen scored first, but were pegged back. However, while Leverkusen rallied late to
The lights dimmed and the crowd hushed as Karoline Kristensen entered for her performance. However, this was no ordinary Dutch theater: The temperature was 80°C and the audience naked apart from a towel. Dressed in a swimsuit and to the tune of emotional music, the 21-year-old Kristensen started her routine, performed inside a large sauna, with a bed of hot rocks in the middle. For a week this month, a group of wellness practitioners, called “sauna masters,” are gathering at a picturesque health resort in the Netherlands to compete in this year’s Aufguss world sauna championships. The practice takes its name from a
Japanese players are moving to English soccer in record numbers and more look set to follow with clubs attracted by their quality, strong work ethic and value for money. Kaoru Mitoma is the standout talent of five Japanese players in the English Premier League, with eight more in the Championship and two in League One. Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo, the captain of Japan, believes his compatriots are “being held in higher esteem” by English clubs compared with the past. “The staff at Liverpool ask me about lots of Japanese players, not necessarily with a view to a transfer, but just saying this or
Taiwan yesterday survived Bosnia and Herzegovina to win their Davis Cup World Group I tie at the Taipei Tennis Center. The tight series started on Saturday with world No. 123 Jason Tseng losing 3-6, 7-5, 6-4 to Mirza Basic in the opening singles matchup. However, teammate Tony Wu kept the tie even, dominating world No. 86 Damir Dzumhur 6-2, 6-1. Yesterday, 24-year-old Ray Ho and partner 25-year-old Hsu Yu-hsiou kept up the momentum, making short work of Basic and Nerman Fatic, winning 6-3, 6-4. Tseng then suffered another defeat, losing 6-4, 2-6, 6-2 to Dzumhur in a brutal match that lasted more than two