Qatar should be switched to the winter, but one party content to stick
with the original summer dates are the local organisers themselves.
FIFA president Sepp Blatter has launched a consultation process over
whether the football showpiece should be moved so as not to endanger
players' and fans' health in the unbearable summer heat that can reach
50 degrees celsius.
Organisers, though, are adamant they can come through with their plans
to keep the stadia cool.
"We have always said that we can organise the World Cup in summer,"
said Hassan Al Thawadi, secretary-general of the organising committee,
at the recent Doha Goals forum.
"But if the world of football or FIFA wants to hold it in winter, we
will be delighted and ready to. But if they want it in summer, we are
also ready."
With work due to get underway on the first stadium Al Wakrah, 20
kilometres from Doha, in a few weeks, air conditioning will be one of
the primary features of the building.
The organisers are aiming for temperatures of 25-26 degrees celsius
with the aid of the air conditioning.
"Air conditioning will be in both the stadia and on the training
grounds," a source close to the organising committee toldAFP.
"To make it air conditioned is not that difficult. The real challenge,
is to consume the least amount of energy possible.
"We are reflecting on the questions over shade and sunlight, the time
of the kick-offs, etc," he added.
However, not all are convinced that top class athletes would suffer
playing in such hot temperatures.
Sebastien Racinais, a French physiologist living in Qatar, told AFP
that there are many examples of athletes defying high temperatures and
even posting performances that are better than those under more
clement conditions.
0"There are many examples which show that it is possible to play sport
in extreme weather conditions," he said.
"We spoke a lot about the heat and humidity of Beijing ahead of the
2008 Olympic Games."
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