I expected either Russia or England to win 2018, but Qatar took me by surprise - I fully expected an Aussie victory.
I like it that the Cup is coming to the Middle East, but it's weird that it's being organized by such a tiny country (less than 2 million inhabitants) with virtually no international footballing tradition. Still, their bid was clearly very good, and their stadia projects are definitely jaw-dropping.
Russia Get the winter olypics in 2014 and the WC wow and as for Qatar anybody think the showup is gonna be low( low as in a low for WC) due to the Middle east conflict?
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There is no conflict in Qatar, I see no reason why people should be afraid to go there. Unless people actually believe Middle East = Iraq = War.
Still, I'm quite surprised by this. Russia is a fine choice, but Qatar is pretty much a nobody in the context of international football, with the small exception that their league is where a few stars have spent their last seasons.
It's a little odd, sure, but I think it's just as important that the World Cup goes to the middle east as it was that it went to africa.
As a brit, I genuinely can't believe Russia was chosen over us. I mean, spain, sure, but russia? cmon. I have to believe it's something to do with how Panorama (an investigative BBC television program) accused FIFA of corruption days beforehand.
In Britain, you play soccer. In Soviet Russia, soccer plays you.
In all seriousness, there's been a bit of a tilt toward BRIC concerning a lot of institutions and international stuff. Brazil, Russia, India and China and other rising powers. The US got shafted on the Olympics, too. I think it's less about "corruption" and more about simple bias. Hosting these events has become a sort of "welcome to the big boys club" for the second and third world.
While England's bid was good, Russia presented a bid MUCH better than all the other ones, with 14 cities, a visa-free policy and free tranportastion included. Russia also has many beautiful tourist attractions, perhaps more than any other country in the world. Their team isn't nearly as bad as many would like to think, with a Euro 2008 semifinal appearance, and a home win over England in the tournament's qualification process. The Russian Premier League is the best in europe after the "big five" (England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France) and produces good results in European tournaments, including a quarterfinal appearance by CSKA Moscow in the 2009-10 Champions League and a last 16 appearance by Rubin Kazan in the 2009-10 Europa League.
As for the Qatari bid, I agree that it wasn't the best one (I was rooting for Australia), but it was a good one, and they did display solutions for their problems - Using solar energy to cool the stadia and other places, creating specialised sites for selling alcohol which is forbidden under Islamic law, and dontaing parts of stadia which would not be needed after the world cup to third-world to help develop football there. As an Israeli, I can say that Qatar is NOT part of the conflict, and even had diplomatic and economic ties with Israel in the past.
While England's bid was good, Russia presented a bid MUCH better than all the other ones, with 14 cities, a visa-free policy and free tranportastion included. Russia also has many beautiful tourist attractions, perhaps more than any other country in the world. Their team isn't nearly as bad as many would like to think, with a Euro 2008 semifinal appearance, and a home win over England in the tournament's qualification process. The Russian Premier League is the best in europe after the "big five" (England, Spain, Germany, Italy and France) and produces good results in European tournaments, including a quarterfinal appearance by CSKA Moscow in the 2009-10 Champions League and a last 16 appearance by Rubin Kazan in the 2009-10 Europa League.
Like any of these mattered for the FIFA. (?)
Please admit that it was all about the money, and the endless opportunities for corruption that Russia offered.
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There is no conflict in Qatar, I see no reason why people should be afraid to go there. Unless people actually believe Middle East = Iraq = War.
Still, I'm quite surprised by this. Russia is a fine choice, but Qatar is pretty much a nobody in the context of international football, with the small exception that their league is where a few stars have spent their last seasons.
You would be surprised how uneducated some people are. I heard someone say the other day that Iraq and Iran were one country (they were serious)
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I like it that the Cup is coming to the Middle East, but it's weird that it's being organized by such a tiny country (less than 2 million inhabitants) with virtually no international footballing tradition. Still, their bid was clearly very good, and their stadia projects are definitely jaw-dropping.
http://www.fifa.com/newscentre/news/newsid=1344698.html
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Still, I'm quite surprised by this. Russia is a fine choice, but Qatar is pretty much a nobody in the context of international football, with the small exception that their league is where a few stars have spent their last seasons.
In Britain, you play soccer. In Soviet Russia, soccer plays you.
In all seriousness, there's been a bit of a tilt toward BRIC concerning a lot of institutions and international stuff. Brazil, Russia, India and China and other rising powers. The US got shafted on the Olympics, too. I think it's less about "corruption" and more about simple bias. Hosting these events has become a sort of "welcome to the big boys club" for the second and third world.
Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.
Individualities may form communities, but it is institutions alone that can create a nation.
Nothing succeeds like the appearance of success.
Here is my principle: Taxes shall be levied according to ability to pay. That is the only American principle.
As for the Qatari bid, I agree that it wasn't the best one (I was rooting for Australia), but it was a good one, and they did display solutions for their problems - Using solar energy to cool the stadia and other places, creating specialised sites for selling alcohol which is forbidden under Islamic law, and dontaing parts of stadia which would not be needed after the world cup to third-world to help develop football there. As an Israeli, I can say that Qatar is NOT part of the conflict, and even had diplomatic and economic ties with Israel in the past.
I wish both hosts the best of luck.
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Like any of these mattered for the FIFA. (?)
Please admit that it was all about the money, and the endless opportunities for corruption that Russia offered.
These are the decks that I have constructed, and are ready to play:
01. Ankh Sligh to be exact.
You would be surprised how uneducated some people are. I heard someone say the other day that Iraq and Iran were one country (they were serious)
http://forum.iwtso.com/index.php
http://iwtso.com/
Join our forum and site to Watch Simpsons free, and discuss a whole lot of other things on our forum.
We are about to have a competition on our forum, join for a chance to win $75
wwab is the best mafia player ever
Want to trade with me?
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=294434
Russia is fine, I think it's a beautiful place and also they did have a good bid.
I actually wanted Australia to win, because by the time it rolled around I could actually be able to go their, yet I digress.
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