234 replies to this topic

[baron-pierreIV]

Here's another one:

[emre]

Here's another one:

ahhh liza minelli.... good old songs...

[intoronto]

There really is no way I would personally vote to award a country with a population of 2 million and is half the size of many of the cities bidding the Summer Olympics.

[baron-pierreIV]

In all probability, Doha will go in the 1st or 2nd round. They only needed 4 extra votes in the FIFA vote. Here, they will need at least 56. I cannot see 56 kings, queens, princes, princesses, business tycoons being bought to vote. Or if I were them, I would still take the money but vote for the one I think best.

[Sir Rols]

But much of the controversy stems from their 2022 WC. The magnitude of the Olympics is more comparable to that of the World Cup than the IAAF Champs. Show us you can handle the WC then at least we won't have to worry about your technical capabilities. The Asian Games and the Asian Cup is still small potatoes compared to the Olympics and the World Cup.

And even then, there's the question of those intangibles like why go to a country with a population of 1.5 million (even if it doubles to 3 million), especially when that country really has no real known cultural or tourist attractions aside from mega malls, beach sports and skyscraper gazing (those we'll be gazing at probably haven't even been built yet).

Well, they did handle the Asian Games in 2006, and at the second biggest multi-sport event after the Olympics, I think that's probably far closer in scope to the SOGs than either the IAAF champs or the WC (though, in a one-town state, I will grant the WC in 2022 is a different kettle of fish than normal. The mind still boggles that they got that).

Actually, I was about to say the 2006 Asiad went of well, but came across a few less than flattering comments in Wikipedia:

First on winning the bid:

...
After the major upset, Malaysia and Hong Kong, China expressed their disappointment. Malaysia said that the selection of Doha was ridiculous and that the selection of Doha was influenced by Qatar's economic wealth.[
...

and weather probs ... but not heat, rain!

...
Despite the spectacular opening ceremony, which received high praise, there was some criticism by some delegations and athletes. Heavy rain poured down just after the end of opening ceremony, and many believed that the organizers did not have plans to deal with it, creating a chaotic situation. Chef de Mission of the Philippines, Butch Ramirez, said that some of the members of the Philippine delegation, including athletes, were soaked in the rain because the organising officials did not allow them to re-enter the covered stadium for shelter; instead they had to stay in the heavy rain for more than 30 minutes. He went on to say that the breakdown in transportation protocols due to the rain caused the athletes to rush to the nearest bus station, exposing them to rain. Ramirez said that he himself was a victim of pushing and shoving due to this chaos, and that because of it, he suffered from an asthma attack.

According to one IOC insider who arrived back at his hotel soaked, this incident hurt the chances of Doha hosting the 2016 Summer Olympics, which Doha applied for on 25 October 2007, and lost on 4 June 2008 when they were eliminated from the pool. Transportation was one of the crucial factors involved in the decision process.
...

[Gangwon]

Well, they did handle the Asian Games in 2006, and at the second biggest multi-sport event after the Olympics, I think that's probably far closer in scope to the SOGs than either the IAAF champs or the WC (though, in a one-town state, I will grant the WC in 2022 is a different kettle of fish than normal. The mind still boggles that they got that).

I was thinking more in terms of influx of visitors, and the type of visitors too. The World Cup is the only comparable event that will bring over comparable numbers of visitors from around the world, who do not share different values. Maybe we should find out how that works out first. Plus, the Doha Asian Games were held in December, and the Asian Cup in January.

[Sir Rols]

I was thinking more in terms of influx of visitors, and the type of visitors too. The World Cup is the only comparable event that will bring over comparable numbers of visitors from around the world, who do not share different values. Maybe we should find out how that works out first. Plus, the Doha Asian Games were held in December, and the Asian Cup in January.

Yep, and the IOC has already made it clear they're going to put pretty stringent conditions on what times of day Doha could schedule events IF they surprised everyone and won. I think, or at least interpret, them as handicapping Doha already.

[deawebo]

If Doha wins the IAAF world championships in 2017, it will help their bid. Just a little bit

[Texas]

If October is the date for a Doha Olympics, the IOC can kiss the NBA players goodbye from the Olympics and Olympic Basketball no longer becomes "The International Tournament of NBA Players."

[qatar son 333]

Qatar raises state salaries, pensions

DOHA: Qatar will hand out significant salary, pension and benefits increases for its state and military employees costing as much as 30 billion riyals ($8.24 billion).

The decree will boost basic salaries and social benefits for state civilian employees by 60 percent.

[b]Military staff of officer rank will receive a 120 percent increase in basic salaries and benefits, with other ranks getting a 50 percent rise, according to the statement.[/b]

The total salary increases will amount to 10 billion riyals ($2.7 billion) per year, the statement said.

“There is no seething mass of anger or unhappiness with the leadership in Qatar, as there was, to some degree, in Saudi Arabia. So while this measure will obviously please Qatari citizens, it has not been done from a place of weakness,” said David Roberts, deputy director of the Royal United Services Institute based in Doha.

“The government likely wanted to reward the military for their highly unusual efforts in Libya.”

The decree also ordered a 60 percent pension increase for civilian retirees. Military retirees of officer rank will see a 120 percent hike, with ranks eligible for a 50 percent hike.

The state will make a one time payment of 10 billion riyals toward its pension fund and another 10 billion for retirees’ subscriptions.

Concerns about inflationary pressures remain muted despite the substantial pay increases, analysts said.

“It’s an eye-catching number, but it applies to such a small percentage of the workforce that I doubt it will have much impact on overall price trends,” said Simon Williams, HSBC’s chief economist for the Middle East and North Africa.

The move was viewed as unlikely to increase real estate prices.

“We’ll likely see some inflationary pressure on other goods and services. I would expect to see inflation of about three or four percent in a year or so. Some prices will increase immediately, but others are staggered and will take more time,” a Doha-based economist said.

The move was seen as likely to put pressure on the competitiveness of the private sector.

“The cost of living has increased substantially in recent years, so the pay rise could be seen as long overdue. But Qatar needs to encourage locals to enter the private sector workforce, and this is counter-productive in terms of developing the skills and know-how of the Qatari workforce,” another Doha-based economist said.

Qatar’s economy was expected to surge 18 percent this year, with the government planning to spend over $125 billion in the next five years on construction and energy projects.