Doha, Qatar – Ahead of Qatar hosting of the 2022 World Cup, which will begin on Sunday, football teams and fans have started arriving. In 2010, Qatar, a nation of fewer than three million people, was allowed to host the 32-team global competition. The country has gone through many changes to prepare for the masterpiece occasion. So, is Qatar prepared to host the most important tournament in football? In this article, the management of Qatar is being discussed. How Qatar will cope up with such a high-profile event.
Qatar Hosting
This year, 2022, Qatar will host the FIFA World Cup from 20th November to 18th December. There will be 64 matches in total, with 32 teams competing for the trophy. The final will be held in Lusail, Lusail City, while the inaugural game will take place at Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor. The eight stadiums would have a total of 3,80,000 seats.95% of the entire infrastructure projects, including roads, are finished at this point, and completion is anticipated by September.
When preparing to host an international sporting event, a nation must carefully consider its preparations. Numerous issues must be resolved, like
- Changing the law
- Building infrastructure
- Workers’ rights and immigration
- Sponsorships
- Consumer protection
- Tourism
- Free trade
- Intellectual property (ip) rights
- Access to stadiums
- Taxation
- Counterfeiting
- Gambling
- Betting
The first World Cup of this kind will be held in the Middle East and hosted by an Arab nation in 2022. Any country must comply with FIFA’s requirements to host such an event. Qatar can make new laws or change laws it already has, and it could make bilateral agreements with FIFA that would benefit both of them.
The proclamation, which was issued in December 2010, sparked a nationwide construction boom, nine environmentally friendly stadiums, modern facilities, and a world-class metro rail network connecting locations. More than 1.2 million fans will visit the Gulf nation during the tournament.
Qatar Stadiums
On September 9, the 80,000-capacity Lusail Iconic Stadium hosted a friendly match between Al-Ahly of Saudi Arabia and Egypt’s Zamalek. It was the final of seven brand-new World Cup stadiums constructed (Khalifa International Stadium opened in 1976). On December 18, the World Cup final will take place at the Lusail, a stunning stadium: Imagine a larger version of the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, both of which were designed by Populous.
Al-Bayt Stadium’s and Al Janoub’s magnificent designs are shaped like pearls, which will ensure that Qatar receives a score of ten out of ten for aesthetics and stylistics during the World Cup. However, the extensive Metro system and five-line highways are prepared to connect fans to the stadiums.
These metros are designed with the shortest distance between Al Janoub in the south and Al Bayt in the north, taking no more than an hour. There are very few amenities for fans, with just days to go until the opening game.
Some stadiums are surrounded by dust bowls, which are vast expanses of desert, construction sites, or empty parking lots. For miles, there are no hotels, shops, or cafes. According to the organizers, all stadiums will have fan zones, food stalls, and entertainment areas between now and the World Cup. However, there will still be plenty to do.
How accessible are Qatar’s eight stadiums and their surroundings?
Because Qatar is so small—about half the size of Wales or Connecticut—fans won’t have to travel as far as they have in previous World Cups in Brazil and Russia. The good news is that new roads and a metro system linking all the stadiums have been constructed in Qatar.
A day pass to the Metro costs just 6 riyals ($1.65), and World Cup fans with match tickets can use it for free. Ubers are inexpensive and widely available. From Hamad International Airport to the centre of Doha, a 30-minute ride costs just 40 riyals, or $11.
If they were feeling daring, fans could travel between all eight venues on the Metro in just over two hours. Getting into Qatar will rely upon having a match ticket and downloading the Hayya application, which will empower fans to show their pass. Still, on the other hand, it is expected for admittance to move, lodgings, cafés and a few shops and shopping centres.
What about Air Conditioning? Is that accurate?
During the tournament, all of the stadiums—with the exception of 974 Stadium—will have air conditioning for players and spectators, though this may not be necessary given that November and December temperatures are unlikely to exceed 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit).
During games, the standing temperature will be between 21 and 22 degrees Celsius (69 and 71 degrees Fahrenheit). Fans may even need to bring a coat to some games because the vents at seat level will pump out cool air.
Accommodations
Concerns exist that the nation might need more lodging for the anticipated influx of football fans during the tournament. The organizers have built hotels, villas, apartments, and infrastructure over the past 12 years to get ready for the massive event. The organizers have also permitted residents to rent out their rooms and houses to alleviate housing concerns.
Additionally, cruise ships and desert locations will host fans. In Doha, at least three floating hotels with approximately 10,000 beds each have docked. According to authorities, an artificial island north of Doha has 1,000 modern tents where some fans can stay.
To alleviate concerns about a potential housing shortage in Qatar. Organizers are introducing more than 500 daily shuttle flights that allow fans to stay in nearby cities such as Dubai in the United Arab Emirates, Muscat in Oman, and Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
At the World Cup, 20,000 volunteers will provide services to guests in 45 sectors. They would be present, among other places, in hotels, fan zones, and airports. There would be 20,000 volunteers, many of whom would come from different nations and Qatar. The authorities claim that the volunteers will begin working in the field in October.
How is the alcohol situation? Will fans be allowed to drink or not?
Liquor is accessible in Qatar. However, it is completely directed and will continue being controlled during the World Cup. ESPN asked the Head of Security of the Supreme Committee whether fans could bring their alcohol to Qatar. The response was definite “no.”
Fans with a lot of money can go to one of the many high-end hotels in Doha, where guests can purchase alcoholic beverages. Beer costs between £12 and $14 for a pint at the InterContinental Beach, Marriott Marquis, and Kempinski Pearl—the USMNT has reserved the Kempinski as their base.
Fans can purchase alcohol before and after the game at stadiums, but they will not be able to watch it from the stands. Budweiser, one of the World Cup sponsors, will supply the beer in stadiums and fan zones. On matchdays, the 40,000-capacity Al Bidda Park fan zone in central Doha will serve alcohol only after 6:30 p.m. and until 1 a.m.
Non-Muslim residents of Qatar can get a licence from the Qatar Distribution Company to purchase alcohol. During the World Cup, visitors cannot buy alcohol outside of hotels, restaurants, and fan zones. Drinking in public can result in a six-month prison sentence or an $800 fine, despite the fact that sources have stated that fans caught with alcohol outside won’t likely face harsh punishment from the authorities of designated areas.
Qatar Transport
Qatar made significant investments in upgrading its transportation system before the championship. In advance of the games, the host nation constructed a metro rail system, which went live in 2019, major highways, and a tram system. Between November 10 and December 23, public transportation will be free for people with a Hayya card, a fan ID that allows people who have tickets into Qatar and the stadiums.
All eight stadiums will be within a 55-kilometre (34-mile) radius of Doha, making the 2022 tournament the most compact World Cup ever. If they so choose, fans can attend more than one game daily. In any case, it has likewise added to the blockage worries with the World Cup basically occurring in one city, the capital Doha.
Five of the eight FIFA World Cup stadiums, are directly connected to the metro railway. The remaining stadiums are connected via shuttle bus services and the Metro. In order to transport passengers between transportation hubs and stadiums, a fleet of 4,000 buses, including 700 electric vehicles, will be utilized. During the World Cup, approximately 50,000 passengers per day are anticipated to use buses, according to the organizers.
Is Qatar safe for the World Cup?
There is a significant security operation for every major tournament or event, and Qatar will be no exception. Expertise and personnel from neighbouring nations will be drafted in due to the size of their security forces. During the tournament, the Royal Air Force of the United Kingdom will assist in air traffic control. Al Udeid Air Force Base in the United States will also provide support for security and intelligence.
At Aspire Zone, Qatar has constructed a control centre in the style of NASA as the hub for controlling what occurs inside each World Cup stadium. There are at least 2,000 security cameras in each stadium to keep an eye on the turnstiles and the flow of the crowd. Operators can zoom in on each seat to control the crowd. Programs based on artificial intelligence will alert systems if there is too much or too little crowd movement at particular times.
Niyas Abdulrahman, chief technology officer at Aspire Zone, told ESPN that “if a crowd situation forms, we will detect it and act proactively” when asked if the system could have prevented the crowd scenes that marred Real Madrid Champions League vs. the Liverpool final in Paris in May. The stadium’s every nook and cranny is under surveillance.
In addition, despite the fact that cybersecurity should never be ignored, the stadium data screens were accompanied by a video screen highlighting the degree of the global cyber threat to emphasize that the screens were aware of the possibility that hackers might target the system.
Qatar Health Care
Arrangements in place The Qatari health sector has taken every precaution to protect World Cup attendees, players, and delegates from the COVID-19 pandemic. Before the current crisis, Qatar had successfully carried out several tournaments under the bio-bubble arrangement. The participating nations and other nations’ confidence has increased as a result.
Conclusion
In order to meet the requirements outlined in the bid document, the State of Qatar has embarked on remarkable projects in various fields. The big question is whether Qatar can handle so many supporters from around the world. That question can only be answered after passing few days. I hope you have got what you were looking for. For further information, click the following links:
- The FIFA World Cup – History, Winners, Awards 1930 – 2022
- Fifa World Cup 2022 – Qatar Stadium and Catchy Venues
- 32 Best Coaches List Set To Be In Qatar – Fifa World Cup 2022
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
These are the questions people are also looking for. These might help you too!
How much money was exchanged for the World Cup by Qatar?
The 1st match between Qatar and Ecuador is scheduled for 11 a.m. Eastern time on Sunday. This will be Qatar’s first World Cup appearance in 92 years. Qatar has been accused of paying Ecuadorian players more than $7 million in bribes to host the match.
How much does attending the World Cup in Qatar cost?
While group stage tickets range from $70 to $220 for locals, knockout matches cost between $600 and $1,600 for everyone else. Except for a few games in the group, most games have sold out of tickets. There are significantly fewer tickets available for Qatar 2022 than there will be for United 2026.
Is Qatar profiting from the World Cup?
According to a partner at a prestigious Middle Eastern firm, the Qatar World Cup 2022 could bring in “maybe $10 billion or more” for Qatar, whereas Bloomberg has given it a value of $5.4 billion, which is more conservative. However contentious it may be, the four-week competition will generate revenue for the affluent Gulf nation.
Does Qatar sell beer?
In Qatar, a conservative Muslim nation, alcohol sales are strictly regulated. Since the country won the World Cup in 2010, there has been much speculation about beer availability.
