A Look at Qatar's Bid for the 2022 World Cup, and its Potential Impact

The potential for nation-building is one of the strong attractors of Qatar's bid for the 2022 World Cup, according to this piece from the Huffington Post. THe piece looks at the country's bid and some of the proposed stadia it seeks to build for the event. One interesting note is that Qatar's bid, in contrast to far-reaching bids of nations like the U.S., makes plans for all stadia to be within about an hour's drive of one another.

They have demonstrated their ability to host large events with the success of the Asian Games held in Doha in 2006. With no shortage of money to devote to construction, the key focus of their promotional bid video is their five proposed new stadia. Each is designed by Albert Speer & Partner, a firm with a history of working at more intrepid scales in the Middle East than at home in Germany.

For a region not shy of symbolism, it might be no surprise that a familiar list of metaphors weighs the proposal down: the dhow fishing boat (Al Shamal Stadium); the seashell (Al Khor Stadium); the national flag (Al Gharafa Stadium); and the oasis (Al Wakrah Stadium), which might also make up for the sole missing metaphor, the pearl, in the form of a spherical glass dome.

Qatar's Bid for World Cup 2022: To Build a Nation or a Region?
Huffington Post
August 2, 2010

Durban Stadium Gets New Attraction

The design of the new Moses Mahbida Stadium in Durban has garnered a lot of attention over the past few months. Its striking arch over the field and the funicular cable car that rides on it have thrust the stadium into the international spotlight.

Now there's a new addition: a bungee swing will soon open at the top of the arch.

The swing will be suspended from the top of the arch and people will be able to swing from the fourth level on one side of the stadium across to the other.

The city's municipal manager, Michael Sutcliffe, said the swing was currently being tested and would "open for business" within a week.

Durban makes big leap in World Cup plans
Independent Online
January 19, 2010

Stadium Opens in Durban

The second of the brand new World Cup stadia has opened in Durban.

The Moses Mabhida stadium is named after a former leader of the South African Communist Party, and will host seven matches during the World Cup.

The stadium's outstanding feature is a cable car which ascends to a viewing platform at the top of a 350m arch.

Durban stadium opens
BBC
November 29, 2009

The Development of Green Point Stadium

Pitch Invasion offers this look at the current state of development at Cape Town's Green Point Stadium. Post includes some great pictures and some video.

Green Point Stadium will host eight games at the 2010 World Cup, including a semi-final, and will have a capacity of 68,000 at a cost of R3 billion (approx. $400M). It is being constructed on the site of the now demolished old Green Point Stadium, an 18,000 capacity stadium home to both Santos Football Club and Ajax Cape Town.

World Cup Stadia 2010: Green Point Stadium
Pitch Invasion
June 23, 2009