Roads being made and unanswered questions: this is the scene in Qatar 200 days before the start of the first World Cup in an Arab country, from November 21 to December 18.
Eight stadiums are ready (seven new, one renovated). Across Doha, on the other hand, an army of migrant workers are working at countless construction sites.
FIFA says to itself convinced that supporters will find optimal conditionsbut they do not share this opinion.
Since 1998, it has been the most complex World Cup in terms of logisticssaid Ronan Evain, general manager of the Football Supporters Europe association, to AFP.
The difficulty of getting information from the organizing committee. Lots of blursadded Fabien Bonnel, spokesperson for the group of Irresistibles Français (IF) supporters.
Many will boycott the tournament, for logistical and budgetary reasons, in reaction to the situation of migrant workers or no longer taking place in an air-conditioned stadium, they said.
In 2018, in Russia, 600 members (of the IFs) followed at least one match. For Qatar, we only received about one hundred requestssaid Fabien Bonnel.
The cost of tickets (on average 30% more expensive than in Russia), transportation and accommodation top the list of concerns.
In just 200 days, it costs approximately 1,500 euros (CA $ 2,025) for a return trip from Europe, but many won’t know until May 31 if they’ve already gotten tickets to the match.
Although supporters usually find their accommodation, most of the accommodation is collected on an official platform, reserved for ticket holders.
Right now, supporters are seeing price increases without knowing where they will stopsaid Ronan Evain.
The hosting portal […] will be constantly updated and will keep stock for fans who have not yet gotten their ticketstold AFP to the Supreme Organizing Committee of the World Cup.
A total of 130,000 rooms will be available, or 3.64 million nights, in hotels, apartments, villas, cruise ships and camps, from 77 euros (CA $ 104) per person for a double room.
Before previous World Cups, there was a lot of talk about infrastructure backwardness. There everything is readywhich leaves room for other questions, said Danyel Reiche, who manages a World Cup research project at Georgetown University in Qatar.
For researchers, that’s expected a great World Cup thanks to the quality of the infrastructure, a question should be quickly clarified so as not to spoil the overall success of the contest : yung sa alak.
It is possible to consume it in some hotel bars and non -Muslim expatriates are authorized to buy it in dedicated stores.
During the contest, there was talk of allowing sales in certain reception areas and in areas dedicated to supporters, at a reduced price. But it has not yet been made official.
All the complexity for Qatar depends on success in adapting to a mold heavily influenced by Western festive imaginations, believes Raphaël Le Magoariec, researcher specializing in Gulf countries and sport. It is a clash of cultures, I think there is a desire to protect ourselves from this subject of tension as much as possible.
Nor do they know how to treat drunks, street kissing or openly gay supporters, which is generally prohibited.
This worries the embassies of 29 countries out of 32 qualified, unable to provide advice to their supporters or organize their staff.
Police and security forces are ready to deal with problems related to public intoxication in a rational and sensitive waycommitted to the Organizing Committee, that only asking fans to respect the country’s conservative culture.
Regarding the LGBT community, he repeats the take there seriously its responsibility to organize the contest where everyone feels safe. FIFA added that personnel, starting with the security forces, are trained in respect for human rights.
The international federation also said make sure symbols that support LGBTIQ+ are displayed inside and outside the stadiums.
The question remains about Qatar’s experience in managing an event of this magnitude: the tens of thousands of people crowding the Doha Corniche for the first edition of the Eid festival on Tuesday shocked organizers and caused scenes of disorganization, especially at the entrance. at metro stations.
Source: Radio-Canada
