Lusail on course as Qatar tries to bridge political gulf
The golden vessel-like structure will host 2022 World Cup opener and final
DOHA: Given the Gulf’s current political climate, Qatar’s endeavour to use football as a catalyst for peace and development received a significant boost when the Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy unveiled the design of the Lusail Stadium in a crisp ceremony on Saturday night.
Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-thani attended two significant events on Saturday. While the second one was strictly related to the “Road to 2022” FIFA World Cup, the 18th Doha Forum, earlier in the day, was more diplomatic in nature. Both occasions showed Qatar’s willingness to settle differences through dialogue and unite once again through sport and culture as it braves a more than six-month old geo-political blockade.
“Our position towards solving this crisis has remained unchanged; lifting the blockade and settling differences through dialogue based on mutual respect and non-interference in the internal affairs of other countries,” said Sheikh Tamim.
BLOCKADE
Qatar has been cut off from the rest of the Middle East. The only road that connects the tiny peninsular nation of 2.7 million leads through Saudi Arabia, Qatar’s single biggest ‘rival’ at this stage.
The issues range from religion to terrorism and reportedly stems from fake news attributing statements to the Emir. Soccer could become a messiah in these circumstances.
Saudi Arabia, along with UAE, Bahrain and Egypt, has imposed a land, sea and air embargo on Qatar. But if the speed and progress of work at the 80,000-capacity Lusail Stadium are any indication, the blockade seemingly has had no impact.
Locals say Qatar only imports dairy products from Saudi and can manage its requirement for cement and steel, the key ingredients for infrastructure development.
BEHEMOTH OF CONCRETE
It is hard to believe that Lusail, currently a behemoth of concrete, will finally look like a golden vessel with a graceful undulating trim. When completed by 2020, a highly sophisti- cated lighting system will present the welcoming glow of a fanar lantern, a Qatari signature.
The international media, kept at safe distance from hundreds of curious labourers, were taken on a tour of Lusail stadium on Saturday morning.
Project head Tamil-al-abed provided elaborate details on the various challenging sections of the stadium that will stand at 74-and-a-half metres when completed. The pitch, now a mix of whitish earth and sand, will be tested in time for match fitness with a couple of international games.
The first football World Cup in Arab-land will be a winter affair. Scheduled from November 21-December 18, 2022, Doha has currently budgeted for 64 matches with kick-off times at 1, 3 and 7 PM local time. Will heat be a deterrent?
Data from the last 10 years reveal Doha’s day-time temperature hovers between 24.2 to 29.5 degrees Celsius in Novemberdecember.
It can go as low as 15 in the evening.
COOLING BREAKS
The 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil had its first cooling breaks during the last-16 match between Netherlands and Mexico in Fortaleza.
When temperatures reached above 32 degrees Centigrade inside the stadium, referee Pedro Proenca allowed a threeminute time out!
A cool breeze swept the Marina in now-developing Lusail City on Saturday evening.
It was 7.30 PM, the time when the big games would be in full swing four years from now.
Even considering the effects of global warming, the weather should not be a matter of concern as Qatar promises to ensure a uniform 26 degrees pitch temperature during day games.
The biggest concern is not heat but whether FIFA decides to make the 2022 World Cup a 48-team affair from 32.
That’s a bigger global political game unfolding in football’s headquarters and Qatar is not breathing easy till at least March when a final decision is expected.