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FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022
Agencies
Nasser al Khater, Assistant Secretary-General of the Supreme Committee for Delivery & Legacy, was in Madrid to take part in the World Football Summit, where he announced that Qatar's FIFA World Cup 2022 preparations are in"a good moment of development" in stadiums and other facilities, including the completion of metro rail by 2020, and accommodations for on-the-go spectators.
"We expect 1.2 million viewers and in addition to hotels, there are many and of very good quality, we will look for an innovative solution. A new concept of temporary accommodation in the 'Fan Villages' with entertainment area will provide fans stay in the desert and live a completely new experience. I think we are going to surprise the world. It will be something unique," said Khater while speaking at the summit.
The organisation plans to pull technology if necessary to avoid the heat in the enclosures, although at the scheduled dates temperatures are not too high.
"It is not new to us. We have the means to control the temperature inside the field and establish a microclimate with 19 degrees in the interior although it may be 39 or 40 in the exterior. But in November and December (when the event will be held) it will not be so high," he said, convinced that the World Cup"will demonstrate the work of the country" for years and that it will be"an international celebration" and"an opportunity" to show the world.
"In response to allegations about the poor working conditions of workers in stadium construction and the diplomatic and physical boycott that Qatar has been suffering by neighboring countries, Khater launched a clear answer.
"What Qatar is doing is part of its social and human legacy and I think it's a model, maybe it's not going as fast as some people would want, but having the Cup of the world is an opportunity to demonstrate what you can improve with it," he said.
Regarding"illegal blockade of neighbouring countries," the director said that his country"has always promoted this World Cup as a Cup of the regional world."
"There are people who question it, but with the current situation it is important to remember that the people of these countries and of Qatar at the end of the day are neighbours and many are families. We do not think this reflects the current desires of the people," he added.
Khater praised the contribution to Qatar and its sport of Spaniards like Raul Gonzalez and Xavi Hernandez,"who have had a great impact between athletes and young people, who have a passion to help young people and teach everything they have learned.
It was a shame to stay a step closer to the Olympics," he said in reference to his country's defeat in Iraq's extra time at the Asian Olympics that left it out of Rio 2016.
The legacy that Qatar will leave 2022 is also very defined by its organisers, who base it"on four pillars: social, human, environmental and economic"."We try to mix everything. Each stadium has a legacy plan. Many that are not club property will be demolished and will go to the community for commercial or social purposes, others will reduce their capacity.
"We have many programs for young people in the region, because we want to give the opportunity to take advantage of the World Cup as a platform to promote innovative ideas," he explained.
