There was bitter disappointment yesterday as Australia woke up to find that our 2022 World Cup bid was booted in the first round of voting. Australia embarrassingly received only one vote from the 22 available, with the eventual decision going to the tiny nation of Qatar.
Australia’s bid was always going to struggle, with our bid team trying to convince FIFA that the time difference between Australia and the massive European market would not affect profitability. The strength of our own football codes would also have caused unrest amongst the voting contingent, with AFL and NRL seasons that overlap with the World Cup.
The question must be asked if a cartoon kangaroo gallivanting around Australia with Cathy Freeman and Ian Thorpe has any relevance at all to a FIFA voting panel of balding, middle aged businessmen.
The prospect of a World Cup in Qatar is an unusual choice for FIFA to make; it does offers a unique opportunity to enter the lucrative market of Middle East.
Conversely, Qatar has a world ranking stands at 113th and has never reached the World Cup. Qatar’s population was 1.4million in 2009, according to the World Bank, less than the population of Brisbane. This suggests that the local population will be unable to fill the stadiums, and will rely on foreigners and tourists to make up the numbers.
Additionally, the tournament will be held during Qatar’s summer, where temperatures soar to over 50° Celsius.
These factors were seemingly overlooked by the voting contingent, despite a damning earlier report by FIFA that condemns the extreme heat that will be suffered by athletes and spectators alike.
After the Qatar’s success was announced, bid chief executive Hassan Al-Thawadi, stated that, “Heat is not and will not be an issue.”
Aussies can find some solace in the fact that England also bowed out in the first round of votes, and Poms will take it much more personally.
Calls for a review of the voting process will undoubtedly be cried today from those who missed out on hosting rights. The FIFA officials that vote on the host nation have faced a barrage of criticism in the weeks leading up to the vote, with allegations of corruption and bribery.
The selection of the wealthy country of Qatar as 2022 hosts is sure to raise a few eyebrows both in Australia and abroad, considering the USA was firm favourite to win. The legitimacy of the voting process was further discredited when news of Qatar’s successful bid was leaked on Twitter an hour before the official announcement.
January’s 2011 Asian Cup, to be hosted in Qatar, now shapes as an important indicator on the country’s ability to host a major international sporting event.
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