Look back at 2010: ‘Qatar think they might just have got it’

REPORTER’S NOTEBOOK

Al Jazeera’s sports activities reporter seems to be again on the World Cup, from the day Qatar received the bid to the ultimate straight.

Doha, Qatar – It was textual content messages again in 2010, a reminiscence that dates each the Qatar World Cup and me.

I used to be standing outdoors an exhibition centre in Zurich, stamping my toes to maintain heat in between doing stay experiences for Al Jazeera. FIFA was about to announce the hosts for the 2022 World Cup.

My fingers have been definitely getting an excellent exercise as choice time acquired nearer that snowy December day.

The inbox on my banged-up Nokia was filling up with notes from colleagues contained in the toasty confines of the Messe Corridor, and all had the same chorus.

“Qatar suppose they may simply have gotten it” would finest summarise the general sentiment. A stay feed of the grand envelope opening was being fed into my ear as former FIFA boss Sepp Blatter stepped as much as ship the phrases that modified a nation ceaselessly.

“The winner to host the 2 twenty-two FIFA World Cup is Qatar!”

Not solely did we’ve a brand new approach of claiming 2022, however soccer’s greatest event additionally had a brand new residence.

The following day, a shivering press huddle gathered outdoors the lodge the place Qatar’s bid crew was staying. The top of the committee, Hassan Al Thawadi, took a number of questions earlier than leaving for the airport.

The principle theme that morning was Qatar’s climate and the excessive temperatures in June and July when the World Cup is historically held. There was additionally the “lack of footballing tradition” cost thrown at Al Thawadi.

That was simply day considered one of Qatar being within the world highlight like by no means earlier than. The pointed questions in that freezing Swiss automobile park have been simply the beginning.

With an unprecedented 12-year build-up, this World Cup has been scrutinised like no different. My hope is that the idealism reasonably than the criticism of the 2010 bid does grow to be a actuality; that followers will be capable to journey to multiple sport per day; that sceptics visiting the Center East for the primary time have a few of their preconceptions modified.

Any veterans of that chilly morning in Switzerland can also word that air-conditioned stadiums have been constructed and Qatar’s nationwide crew that kicks off this World Cup will achieve this as reigning Asian Cup champions.

Most of all, I’m wanting ahead to seeing this World Cup mirrored by way of the eyes of my younger son. He’s simply one of many many adjustments which have occurred in my life since that vote greater than a decade in the past. A formative footballing reminiscence of mine is watching the 1982 World Cup as a seven-year-old and falling in love with the yellow Brazilian jersey.

It opened my eyes to a beguiling world past the mud and chill winds of English soccer. It confirmed in my thoughts that this sport would ceaselessly be part of my life. My son can’t wait to look at the world’s finest at their finest. He needs to see objectives, recreate them within the again backyard and relive them in his goals.

For a number of days a minimum of, we should always all be allowed to welcome a bit of wide-eyed pleasure again into our lives.