Qatar Celebrates 2022 World Cup Bid Success
The 2022 football World Cup has been granted to the tiny Gulf state of Qatar which is now set to become the smallest country to host the tournament.
Understandably there is elation all across the country in fact all across the Gulf region as they feel that they have finally been rewarded for years of effort that has gone down in raising the economic condition of the region.
The people took to the streets dancing in joy and prostrating in traditional Islamic way, the bidding team was then awarded a tumultuous welcome upon their return from Zurich where the much awaited bidding ceremony took place.
There were great celebrations at the airport which was followed by a parade including camel corps and cavalry that escorted an open-top bus along the Doha corniche.
The elated team was greeted by the locals as well as a large population of expatriates who have settled in the oil rich state.
The welcome for the team was an extension of the celebrations ever since the country was awarded the most coveted football event in the ceremony held on Thursday.
For most of the locals it was a dream that had come true, and they claimed that they were absolutely delirious at FIFA’s decision that was read out by the President of the body Sepp Blatter.
"I expect Qatar to handle this very well, Qatar is capable of everything, the development and progress we see in Qatar today are evident that Qatar can make a historical event out of this," said one Qatari resident.
By winning the bid the country with one of the highest expatriate populations in the world is set to become the first ever Arab country besides being the smallest ever to host the World Cup.
A staggering 80 percent of the country’s population consist of expatriates, many of them European.
Some members of the expat community also joined in the celebration on the streets.
"This is great for Egyptians too, it's great news for the entire Arab world," said one Egyptian resident of Doha.
"We are having a great day celebrating and dancing...Qatari people are enjoying themselves, we congratulate all Muslims," said another fan who wants to play his part in setting up the tournament.
Meanwhile within the country itself many have expressed concern about the impact the expected 500,000 visitors will have on the country's traditional culture which follows strict Islamic way of life where the mingling of males and females is discouraged.
Despite the concerns most of the Qatari officials have attempted to play down the issue, claiming that the visitors would have a great time in their country and the local population would welcome them with open arms.
A massive infrastructure would have to be put in place for the tournament and that includes building more hotels, restaurants, and even basic infrastructure besides highways, at the moment the state has around 50,000 hotel rooms.
For the tournament the bidding leaders have promised 95,000 rooms will be available by 2022.
The bidding team was also praised by the ecstatic local media that referred to the "guts, gumption and glory" of the tiny Gulf Arab State, in what was to many observers a surprising win.
There are plans for massive spending in the next few years with a $25 billion rail network; an $11 billion new airport; a $5.5 billion new deep water seaport; and a $1 billion crossing linking its new airport with mega-projects in the northern part of the
capital city of Doha which boasts of all the major economic development.
Besides this about an additional $20 billion would be spent on new roads that would transport players and fans to the various stadiums across the city of Doha.
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