No.

That was someone from an English newspaper claiming to be associated with the US bid as part of a set up to catch out the 2 judges.

Incredibly to me, the latest odds are suggesting that Russia could get 2018. I just can't believe that. I'd thought all along that England was an absolute certainty for 2018.

As for 2022, the odds seem to suggest it's a close 3 way call between USA, Qatar and Australia. Even though I reckon we'd be the best host out of those 3, nothing has changed my opinion that they'll go where all the money is - USA or Qatar.

What did I tell ya. Money speaks all languages.

That's why I honestly thought all along that Australia never had a hope.

And once again, the bookies seemed to be on the money as Russia and Qatar were the ones who shortened in the betting in the last few weeks.

Going to be pretty hot (temp wise) cup time in Qatar,,thankfully for players,,officials & spectators,,all or at least most of their stadiums will have state-of-art air ******

that should read air conditioning
Similar cooling systems promised for training sites & fan zones
9 new stadiums to be built & 3 others will be heavily renovated

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...9-1225965423433

Qatar's Cup already a red-hot topic
Iain Payten
The Courier-Mail
December 03, 2010



OF all the bizarre things about FIFA awarding Qatar a World Cup, one stands out.

And it's not even that the small Arab nation has a climate where outdoor sport can kill you.

Consider this: in three of Qatar's nominated host cities, the population is so small they could not fill the 45,000-seat stadiums to be built.

In a tiny peninsula one-sixth the size of Tasmania, the population of Qatar is only 1.5 million and the majority are foreign workers. Most live in the main cities Doha and Al-Rayyan.

But FIFA yesterday found no problem with the idea that a satellite hub such as Ul-Shamal, population 11,229, will be a site for World Cup games and training bases.

Put simply, there is not much to Qatar above ground. The major attraction is the vast reserves of natural gas and petroleum under it.

Lonely Planet warns visitors: "Around the Gulf, Doha has earned the unenviable reputation of being the dullest place on earth. You will be hard-pressed to find anyone who'll claim the place is exciting."

The basic premise of Qatar's cashed-up bid was a reverse of the Kevin Costner adage: if you come, we will build it.

FIFA played ball and now Qatar will plough $40 billion into constructing nine stadiums and refitting another three.

They will also spend a staggering $100 billion on infrastructure.

In the summer months, which is when the World Cup will be played, the temperature can reach 50C and people rarely hang around outdoors in the daytime.

Qatar's plan to overcome this is the installation of new air-conditioning technology in its stadiums, which cools the air in the stands and on the field down to 30C.

England bid chief Andy Anson has slammed FIFA over the process of awarding two World Cups at the same time, alleging deals for votes were struck between nations vying for the 2018 and the 2022 World Cups.

Like Australia, England bowed out of the 2018 race in the first round with just two votes amid irregular voting patterns ahead of Russia's win.

"Running two World Cups together inevitably led to people with votes in 2018 doing deals with people involved in 2022," Anson said.

The sentiments were shared by Sebastian Coe, a bid board member who helped London seal the 2012 Olympics.

There are rumours of the 2022 World Cup being moved to cooler months, as was done with next year's Asian Cup to be staged in Qatar in January.

Pocketing a rumoured $15 million fee, French star Zinedine Zidane pitched Qatar's non-existent football cred. Ranked 113th in the world, Qatar has never qualified for a World Cup.





http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/...3-1225965446709

Beautiful game in disgrace
The Courier-Mail
December 03, 2010 11:00PM



Outrage about FIFA's votes for 2018 and 2022 was not restricted to Australia. Martin Samuel, in Zurich for London's Daily Mail, vents his spleen about the game's world body.....

THE World Cup is a competition that is, essentially, forged in corruption, which is why it goes to countries that are essentially corrupt.

Countries that will override their tax system, their money laundering laws and, in the case of South Africa, even ride roughshod over their constitution.

We know the FIFA ExCo is populated by chiselers, liars and, quite possibly, ************.

The first thing that should happen after football's Black Thursday is that FIFA's technical committee should be disbanded.

No more whizzing around cities like The Jetsons, all traffic lights switched to green. No more five-star hotels and lavish receptions.

The two worst, most problematic technical bids will host the World Cup in 2018 and 2022. Poor infrastructure, fabulous expense, potentially fatal heat, crazy overcrowding, the two World Cups after next promise them all.

We now know what matters to FIFA's decision-makers, and what clearly does not matter is you, the supporter, your ease, your experience.

Qatar can aircondition its stadiums as much as it likes. It can chill them like a cool box for a summer picnic by the sea. The moment you step outside that artificial atmosphere, the sun will be beating down at an average daily temperature of 41C.

There is so much that is wrong about Qatari success it is hard to know where to start.

Consider this: up against Qatar for 2022, Australia got one vote. They were the only country that proved less popular than England, eliminated at the first stage in their bidding process.

The country that hosted the greatest Olympics ever, in Sydney in 2000; a country that is defined by its love for sport and its prowess against all odds.

This is the country that has missed out, so the World Cup can be played in a state with a population of 1.7 million that has never qualified.

There are 38 cities in Qatar but roughly two-thirds of the population live in just one, Doha, the capital. The bid reflects this.

In fact, the most telling figures are nothing to do with football at all, but can be found in something called the Press Freedom Index compiled by Reporters Without Borders. Its purpose is self-explanatory.

The United Kingdom's PFI ranking is 19, Australia is 18. Qatar are 120th, Russia 20 places behind.
FIFA have given their two World Cups to the countries in which the press is most muzzled.

What sticks in the throat is that we knew all this, and still allowed ourselves to get sucked in.

All you need to know about the men who made this decision is that FIFA requested, as a condition if England had mounted a successful bid, exclusion from a range of UK laws including one governing banks and foreign exchange operations.

So, had England hosted the World Cup, FIFA executives were free to move around with sacks of unexplained cash, exempt from the inquisition of customs officers.

We creep, we crawl, we kow-tow, prostrating ourselves at the feet of crummy, puffed-up overlords.

Ultimately, good stadiums do not matter, good supporters and legacy do not matter,cost-effectiveness in a global recession does not matter.

..obviously qatar have plenty of smackaroos but how about poor russia for their 2018 hosting?!..perhaps they can get a loan from qatar..lol