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text-decoration:none; } img {border:none;} The Sport Review: “Qatar’s
bold 2022 World Cup bid can prove the world wrong” plus 1 moreQatar’s bold 2022 World Cup bid can prove the world wrong Posted: 11 Dec 2010 11:43 AM PST They continue to say it can't be done, that Fifa's decision to award the World Cup to Qatar has heaped ridicule on the sport, and that as 2022 draws closer we will gradually recognise the full extent of the governing body's mistake. We're incessantly reminded about how the searing summer heat will pose a danger to players and fans, about how a nation that has never made it to a World Cup finals—and a country in which one can be arrested for drinking in public—will struggle to welcome the world with open arms. It may be 12 years away but this tournament has already been written off as a failure. However, by scratching below the surface of Qatar's bid it becomes easier to understand why it has been so successful in capturing the imaginations of Fifa's executive committee. Make no mistake, the Gulf state's proposal is awash with unconventional ideas and concepts of which many appear to border on the ludicrous. Yet it is difficult not to be captivated by the sheer boldness of their proposal. Take their now well-publicised solution for combatting Qatar's extreme climate. All 12 of the tournament's stadiums will be equipped with solar powered air-cooling technology to ensure the temperature inside the grounds never exceeds 27c. And just as outlandish are the promises to downscale and dismantle the country's newly-built stadiums after the tournament. Parts of the arenas will be sent around the world to create up to 22 new stadiums in developing countries. The top tier of seating in the Doha Port stadium, for example, will be whisked away to form another 15,600-seater ground elsewhere. Clearly, one of the most remarkable pieces of the jigsaw that is Qatar's bid is its proposed stadiums. Each one is striking in its adventurous and individual design. The Al-Rayyan Stadium, for example, is to be wrapped in a 25,000 square metre plastic membrane which will be used as a giant television screen showing news and matches. The Al-Gharafa Stadium will feature a façade made up of the colours of the flags of all countries that qualify for the tournament. And the Lusail Iconic Stadium, the proposed 86,000 venue for the final, is being billed as a “landmark structure for the Middle East”. And then there is the lasting legacy this tournament has vowed to leave behind. “Qatar 2022 is an opportunity for Fifa to use the power of football to help foster greater knowledge and understanding of the Middle East and break down barriers and misconceptions,” reads a line in the bid book. “A World Cup in the Middle East is a huge opportunity for Fifa to help drive the development of football across the region.” Zinedine Zidane, one of the Qatar bid’s ambassadors, believes a World Cup can help unite a region which is rarely the source of good news. “Football is for everyone,” he said. “What the Middle East is missing is an event like the World Cup. We had it in Africa and now it is time for the Middle East.” Despite what the naysayers will have you believe, perhaps this tournament really could help lay the foundations for a more peaceful Middle East. "It is very important for us to have faith,” said bid chairman Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad Al-Thani. “Fifa had faith with South Africa in 2010 and now we must honour the sacred trust that has been given to us.” ‘Expect Amazing’ are the only two words printed on the front cover of the Qatar 2022 bid summary. And it is a bold motto which does well to encapsulate the 40 pages that lie within. Yaya Touré’s brace helps put Man City level with Arsenal Posted: 11 Dec 2010 10:22 AM PST BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE, 11 DECEMBER 2010 West Ham 1 Manchester City 3 It appears London is the preferred destination for Roberto Mancini’s side when on their travels. One of City’s best displays of the season came in their 4-0 win at Fulham, and Saturday afternoon’s trip to Upton Park proved another fruitful excursion to the capital city. Yaya Touré’s brace capped an impressive performance by the Ivory Coast international and his Manchester City colleagues in what was a comfortable victory over West Ham. The midfield quartet of Touré, David Silva, Nigel de Jong and Gareth Barry worked together with fluidity to leave a tired home side chasing shadows and expending energy. For much of the first half West Ham were tame off the ball and even less incisive with possession. Within just three minutes City should have taken an early lead. Jo darted down the left wing and delivered a low ball towards Robert Green’s front post, but Mario Balotelli’s side-footed effort went narrowly wide. The away side continued to utilise the creative force of Silva and Touré as they sought to unlock an unsteady Hammer’s defence. Touré, who gradually became a key influence on the match, issued West Ham with another warning when he shrugged of the attention of captain Scott Parker and dribbled past two more home defenders. But the former Barcelona midfielder could only direct his shot straight into Green’s arms. Minutes later City surged into a lead courtesy of Touré’s thunderous strike. Barry’s mislaid pass was intended for Silva but instead broke to Touré, who unleashed a powerful drive into the roof of the net. City continued to flood the home side’s half with bodies and moments after the opening strike, Balotelli’s superb solo run almost resulted in a second for Mancini’s team. Hammers boss Avram Grant has failed to escape the relegation zone since taking over at Portsmouth last November. But it appeared a rousing half-time talk may have worked as West Ham were more tenacious immediately after the restart. However any renewed vigour from the home side countered by Touré’s second of the afternoon. The 27-year-old raced clear to collect De Jong’s through ball, racing past James Tomkins. His first effort hit the post but fortunately rebounded into the net off Green’s back. The defensive midfielder was undoubtedly man of the match as he blossomed in his new role behind the front-men, a position which he was rarely enjoyed during his three-year spell at the Camp Nou. Silva, who was crucial to City’s momentum throughout, created the visitor’s third. The World Cup winner showed great awareness to thread a perfectly timed pass to substitute Adam Johnson who duly completed the move with an agile side-step past Green before calmly slotting the ball into the empty net. A near perfect performance was denied by a late West Ham consolation. Lazy marking afforded Tomkins with a free header from a corner, with Yaya’s brother Kolo inadvertently deflecting the effort past Joe Hart. You are subscribed to email updates from The Sport Review To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now. Email delivery powered by Google Google Inc., 20 West Kinzie, Chicago IL USA 60610 -- Posted By Mas Item Arekjowo to The Sport Review at 12/11/2010 11:26:00 PM -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Gugukluhayat" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/gugukluhayat?hl=en.
