FIFA World Cup 2022 - Qatar

[GenericBox]

So Qatar got the 2022 World Cup, and personally I'm fine with that -- I no longer care that much about Soccer for it to be much of a concern (I played as a child).

But... it raises an interesting situation for the event.

As the first World Cup in the "middle east", it is then presumably the first world cup where the majority of home crowd supporters, who will recieve either free or priority seating - will be Muslim.

Secondly, Qatar is so incredibly small, and so incredibly close, to infamous emirate Saudi Arabia.

What is interesting, is that Qatar only has a rough population of 1.7 million. The World Cup attracts roughly 3 million spectators.

That means that Qatar may have more tourists in the country than locals.

Why I put this in the "Ask an Atheist", is because, for the first time - this may be the first time that a Muslim nation, and notably extremist area (well, neighbour anyway) -- will have to face such a large scale invasion of infidels and women.

Will women have to sit on one side of a stadium, and men on the other, during the world cup?

How will extremists react to 2 million infidels flooding their cities.

So, what do you think -- FIFA World Cup and Islam = a bad mix in my opinion.

The one event that arguably brings together the most diverse audience in the world, in a location where change, difference and nonconformity - is not just frowned upon, but sometimes often punishable by death.

I wonder if homosexuals will be welcome to the Qatar 2022 World Cup.

Might be the most discriminatory world cup ever. On the other side, might be the event that points out to the world the discrimination in Islam.

[BlueDevil]

Makes me think of that famous song "While my Qatar gently weaps"

Seriously though, you have raised some interesting points. Don't know much about Qatar so I will have to do a bit of reading.

[Praxis]

Originally Posted by BlueDevil

Makes me think of that famous song "While my Qatar gently weaps"

Boom TISH!!

Seriously though, you have raised some interesting points. Don't know much about Qatar so I will have to do a bit of reading.

Indeed, excellent points GB. I think there will be a lot of speculation about it and it will be interesting to see how it plays out.

To me, Qatar is the tiny Olympic team with more officials than athletes!

On the local side, I'm waiting for Australia to cry foul, say 'we wuz robbed', blah blah. We're not very good at losing, which is a bit embarrassing.

[Logic]

I'm sure they'll be hypocritical and turn a blind eye to select parts of their religion in order to host the world cup, then revert right back to how they were afterwards.

[Logic please]

@Logic: there's certainly potential for them to do that. Myself, I suspect there might be some heavy use of the "cultural relativism" card. Anyone want to bet that FIFA will ignore this and stand up for universal human rights?

[wearestardust]

Very interesting point. Qatar is an emirate and has shar'ia law. In 2006 they held the Asian Games and survived, but this is a different kettle of fish. A bit of googling tells me that western dress is acceptable for women so long as it is "modest". That may not match the tastes of many possible visitors.

From FIFA's perspective the main game is TV, not game attendance.

Also please note I typed this after recovering from fainting from oxygen deprivation from laughing so hard at the idea that FIFA might have the slightest concern for human rights.

[michalis]

I read that alcohol will be allowed in designated areas.

http://www.skysports.com/gallery/det...0.html#photo=0

Amazing stadiums will be built. However, I would not be overly shocked if some votes were bought...

[ABridgeTooFar]

Holding the World Cup in a country with Sharia Law is just plain stupid and idiotic. Votes must have been bought.

Not that i'm bitter. I was just surprised, and kind of hoping we didn't win the bid, because i'd rather it be in Europe so i can go and watch it somewhere cool

Qatar will do fine, but its just such a boring hot place. And FIFA shouldn't of given their premier event to a country where Women weren't even allowed to play soccer until today.

[michalis]

^^
Well to play devils advocate, maybe this event will help liberate and 'westernize' this region of the middle east?

[wearestardust]

Originally Posted by ABridgeTooFar

Holding the World Cup in a country with Sharia Law is just plain stupid and idiotic. Votes must have been bought.

I'm not sure how these two things connect. FIFA wants the television revenues and someone else to bear the financial risk of hosting the event. Everything else - such as the laws of the host country - is an irrelevance.