a écrit le 29 janvier 2010 à 22h37 Milla unveiled as bid ambassador; Qatar CEO calls for historic choice
Qatar World Cup CEO Hassan al-Thawadi calls on FIFA to repeat its historic decision in awarding Africa its first World Cup by awarding the 2022 finals to the Middle East.
Addressing the CAF Congress in Angola today, al-Thawadi told delegates that Qatar, which is seeking a first finals for its region, sought to share Africa’s ambition in harnessing “the power of football as a vehicle for hope and understanding.â€
“We believe that 2022 could prove to be a defining moment, not just for Qatar but for the people of the entire Middle East and the international community,†he said. “As the FIFA World Cup would be a powerful catalyst to building bridges between countries and cultures around the world.â€
Qatar’s cash-rich bid committee caused controversy earlier this month when it paid CAF an undisclosed sum to have sole World Cup bid lobbying rights for its Congress. Several of its rivals to host the 2022 tournament were unhappy at its perceived efforts to “buy†the finals.
But al-Thawadi limited himself to a short speech and two video presentations, which showcased the country and England’s friendly v Brazil in Doha last November. Other bid delegations were also allowed to attend the event, and England, Spain-Portugal and Australia were all present.
Al-Thawadi spoke of the Qatar’s key selling points as a finals host –its compactness, its use of technology to counteract the extremes of heat, and the security of the Qatari nation – but there was a distinct change in tone from previous presentations and an emphasis on the historic choice a Qatari World Cup would represent.
Qatar, he said, was a small nation “with a big heart and huge ambition†and it carried “the hopes and dreams of millions of people across the Middle East.†He emphasised the support of “every Arab Football Federation.â€
Although Qatar has so far waged a slick and impressive PR campaign, the shift in emphasis on being the first Middle Eastern and Arab country to host the finals plays up to a FIFA Executive Committee seemingly fixated with the notion of historic legacy.
At the presentation Cameroon football legend Roger Milla was unveiled as a bid ambassador for the Qatar bid team, joining such other figures as Gabriel Batistuta and Ronald de Boer on its star-filled roster.
World Football Insider
Qatar World Cup CEO Hassan al-Thawadi calls on FIFA to repeat its historic decision in awarding Africa its first World Cup by awarding the 2022 finals to the Middle East.
Addressing the CAF Congress in Angola today, al-Thawadi told delegates that Qatar, which is seeking a first finals for its region, sought to share Africa’s ambition in harnessing “the power of football as a vehicle for hope and understanding.â€
“We believe that 2022 could prove to be a defining moment, not just for Qatar but for the people of the entire Middle East and the international community,†he said. “As the FIFA World Cup would be a powerful catalyst to building bridges between countries and cultures around the world.â€
Qatar’s cash-rich bid committee caused controversy earlier this month when it paid CAF an undisclosed sum to have sole World Cup bid lobbying rights for its Congress. Several of its rivals to host the 2022 tournament were unhappy at its perceived efforts to “buy†the finals.
But al-Thawadi limited himself to a short speech and two video presentations, which showcased the country and England’s friendly v Brazil in Doha last November. Other bid delegations were also allowed to attend the event, and England, Spain-Portugal and Australia were all present.
Al-Thawadi spoke of the Qatar’s key selling points as a finals host –its compactness, its use of technology to counteract the extremes of heat, and the security of the Qatari nation – but there was a distinct change in tone from previous presentations and an emphasis on the historic choice a Qatari World Cup would represent.
Qatar, he said, was a small nation “with a big heart and huge ambition†and it carried “the hopes and dreams of millions of people across the Middle East.†He emphasised the support of “every Arab Football Federation.â€
Although Qatar has so far waged a slick and impressive PR campaign, the shift in emphasis on being the first Middle Eastern and Arab country to host the finals plays up to a FIFA Executive Committee seemingly fixated with the notion of historic legacy.
At the presentation Cameroon football legend Roger Milla was unveiled as a bid ambassador for the Qatar bid team, joining such other figures as Gabriel Batistuta and Ronald de Boer on its star-filled roster.
World Football Insider
