RAAJIV TRIPATHI & ARINDAM NAG - DOHA Leading the 2022 FIFA World Cup bid committee from the front, His Excellency Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa al Thani declared on Tuesday that Qatar would do its utmost to bring the global championship to the Middle East and called upon all to work for it in unison. He was addressing the first press conference here after Qatar submitted its bid in Zurich on March 16. Others who attended the press conference at the Diplomatic Club were Qatar Football Association (QFA) General Secretary Saoud al Mohanadi, QFA President Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa bin Ahmed al Thani and CEO Qatar 2022 Hassan Abdulla al Thawadi.

HE Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad al Thani, chairman of Qatar’s World Cup 2022 bid committee, said time was ripe for the FIFA World Cup to come to the Middle East. He said hosting the coveted event in this part of the world would help the region convey the message of peace to the rest of the world and go a long way in building bridges between the East and the West. “It would allow rest of the world to get a true picture of the Arab world,” said HE Sheikh Mohammed.

HE Sheikh Mohammed claimed that the bid to host the World Cup 2022 and not 2018 was also made keeping in mind Qatar’s Vision 2030. “Much of what the vision envisages will have been achieved by then and theWorld Cup would just be an extension of it. Qatar, which is already on the fast track to development, will by then emerge as the perfect host to the FIFAWorld Cup.” HE Sheikh Mohammed pressed home the point that Qatar was representing the Middle East. “If Qatar succeeds in bagging the hosting rights, it will be the victory of Middle East.”

The chairman of the bid committee clarified that the World Cup 2022 even if organised in Qatar would be held in the summer months. “The event has to be organised in June or July. We will have to take the help of technology to counter the harsh weather. We have already set in motion the process. A stadium with controlled temperature is the answer to the problem. We have other plans up our sleeves as well.”

Replying to a question on Qatar’s conviction in the bid after its failed bid to host the 2016 Olympics, HE Sheikh Mohammed said, “We would not have made the bid had we lacked faith in our capabilities. Moreover, Olympics and World Cup are two entirely different entities. We have certainly learnt a few things from the abortive bid and the experience will certainly prove to be useful this time.”

Among the 11 countries bidding to host the 2022 World Cup, Qatar and South Korea are the only countries from Asia. HE Sheikh Mohammed acknowledged that differences among Asian football associations would make an impact on the two countries’ bid and exhorted the member associations to sink their differences. The other nine countries bidding to host both the 2018 and 2022 World Cups are Japan, Mexico, the United States, England, Russia and joint bidders Spain-Portugal, and Belgium-The Netherlands.

Recounting the origin of the idea to host the mega event, the QFA president said, “The idea to bid for the World Cup was conceived during a FIFA meeting at QFA in 2003. FIFA President Sepp Blatter, who was also present at the meeting, strongly backed the idea and it was finally unveiled before the media in 2006.”

Terming Qatar’s initiative as a courageous one QFA president said, “We have got a courageous man in HE Sheikh Mohammed to lead a courageous mission.” Elaborating on the steps involved, Hassan Abdulla said, “The next important date for us is December 11, 2009, when we will sign the solidarity agreement and the date for final bid submission is May 14, 2010.”

HE Sheikh Mohammed also stressed on taking the help of the Asian Football Confederation’s chief Mohammed bin Hammam to boost Qatar’s case. “He’ll be an asset for us. He is first a Qatari and then a FIFA member. His experience will certainly be an added benefit for us.”