Qatar's shock win in the December vote for the 2022 World
Cup hosting rights led to a storm of criticism, and put the spotlight on the
Asian Cup like never before.
The Gulf nation looked to be passing the first test quite
comfortably until Saturday's final when many fans complained of being locked
out of the stadium, despite holding tickets.
It was the first major organizational hitch in the
tournament, and perhaps it proved Qatar still has lessons to learn about
handling big sporting events.
The main criticism up until Saturday had been the rows of
empty seats at many games, but a look back at previous tournaments shows that
is a common problem at the Asian Cup, which is still catching up with its
continental equivalents.
"We would like to see our competition is comparable
to the best in the world. This is a target," Asian Football Confederation
President Mohamed bin Hammam said last week.
Not many sporting events, let alone football tournaments,
are comparable to the World Cup, however.
Visiting fans, other than from neighboring countries,
were a rare sight at the Asian Cup. In 2022, thousands of supporters from
across the globe will descend on Qatar, and the locals should be more willing
to turn out to watch the world's best teams and their star players than they
were to watch the best that Asia has to offer.
Indeed, while football is Qatar's most popular sport,
fans are more likely to be found avidly watching Real Madrid, Barcelona or
Manchester United on the television than they are at a stadium supporting their
local club.
What did become clear at the Asian Cup is that Qatar, for
better or worse, will produce a World Cup like no other.
For many fans, football and beer are inseparable partners
but they may have to take an enforced break in 2022.
Alcohol is available only in licensed bars in mainly
five-star hotels - and at a high price. A Budweiser, one of the official
sponsors of the World Cup, can cost nearly $10 in a hotel.
Ae-young, a 27-year-old South Korean who lives in the
United Arab Emirates and came to Qatar for the Asian Cup, described Doha as a
city that "sleeps early." "It is not like in Korea where life is
24 hours," she said. "And the places we do go to have fun are all
closed, and cost a lot." The alcohol restrictions are expected to be
relaxed in time for the World Cup, with drinking allowed in designated fan
zones, but rowdy reveling seems unlikely to be tolerated.
In its place, visitors are encouraged to visit the
Corniche, take a trip on a dhow boat, wander through the imposing Museum of
Islamic Art or shop in one of the many air-conditioned malls or at the Souq
Waqif - all in Doha.
If none of those options appeal, fans could spend most of
their time at a football match. Qatar will be the smallest country to have
hosted a World Cup, a fact the bid committee was keen to play up.
"We promoted a compact World Cup," Bin Hammam
said. "We told the world: please come and feel how much more comfortable a
World Cup can be organized in a small country." It is possible to drive
around the entire country in less than a day, and with World Cup venues no more
than an hour apart from each other, dedicated fans might even be able to
squeeze in three matches in 24 hours.
At the Asian Cup, every game took place in Doha or
nearby, and no stadium was more than a short drive away, although the city's
oppressive traffic meant 15-minute journeys could take more like an hour.
There is no public transport to speak of, but Qatar plans
to build a new rail network and metro system and provide a shuttle bus system
in 2022.
With a bulging budget and several space-age stadiums
planned, one of which will be wrapped in video screens, 2022 promises to be a
World Cup to satisfy tech-heads and gadget geeks.
The attitude of this gas-rich nation was summed up by
Bora Milutinovic, an ambassador for the bid who has coached five different
nations at World Cup tournaments.
"Whatever might become a problem, won't be a
problem," the Serb said. "It's not only a matter of money, it's how
it is spent. Qatar buys the best possible professional advice.
"They have a vision and they will make it reality.
They are determined to make it a memorable experience. Whatever may be lacking,
will be built." Providing cheaper hotels will take up part of the
multi-billion dollar budget: five-star hotels far outnumber two-stars in Doha.
However, changing the weather is an insurmountable problem,
even with the Qatari billions.
Ex-pats appreciate Qatar for its safe, family-friendly
environment and the ease of daily life, but all agree that the summer heat,
which can top 50 degrees Celsius (122 Fahrenheit), is almost impossible to
bear.
Most leave the country, those who stay avoid going
outside. Derek Lyon, a Scotsman teaching at a school outside Doha, talks of
taking his dog for a walk in the height of summer, and the dog having "had
enough after five minutes." "It's unbearable," Lyon said.
"It's all very well to say you'll air-condition the stadiums. I went to
the game at Al-Sadd Stadium they organized when the FIFA inspectors were here,
and the air conditioning was used. It was amazing. It was 19 degrees (Celsius)
in the stadium and 45 (degrees Celsius) outside.
"But you can't air-condition a whole country."
The debate seems set to rumble on for a while yet, but it would not be a major
surprise if, as FIFA President Sepp Blatter has already proposed, the World Cup
is moved to the Qatari winter months.
Bin Hammam was initially opposed to a move, but seems to
have softened his stance of late. For now, he is happy that the Asian Cup has
passed off without adding more fuel to the critics' fire.
"For me, (the Asian Cup) was actually more an
opportunity for those who have less confidence in Qatar's capability of
organizing a World Cup, to witness for themselves what can be done," he
said.
It will take more than a successful Asian Cup to change
hearts and minds completely.
