Today is a big day here in Qatar. They are one of the five bidding nations for FIFA 2022.
Today is the announcement of who will host FIFA 2022.
For a long while now there have been HUGE billboards (they really know how to do billboards here) on street corners, most of the locals have 2022 stickers on their cars, buildings are covered with logos, there are large footballs in the middle of roundabouts and while the FIFA officials were here there were flags flying from cars and the streets were lined with flags.
This is an advertisement that was in todays paper.
Today the streets are lined with purple flags advertising "decision day", the shopping malls are selling big flags, small flags and flags that flash with different colours, sunglasses the colours of the Qatari flag, lanyards, scarfs and hats (yes we will need them soon) the screens in the mall are playing the Qatar 2022 TV advertisement. Its really quite a good feeling.
In todays paper the headines are "Qatars Day of Destiny" and "Hysteria at Breaking Point" one of the locals has said in the paper that if Qatar wins it they will take to the streets.
'Old tyres have been replaced, cars have been primed, music systems have been checked - the parade is ready to hit the Corniche'. "Because it is a Thursday night (equiv of the West's Friday) we will be watching the announcement together. If it is in Qatar's favour, we are heading straight to the Corniche in vehicles ranging from mega SUV's to drag cars"
Although it would be a fabulous atmosphere - the last place we will be tonight is at any of the live public screenings of the announcement or the Corniche - if Qatar wins this country will go MAD tonight!!!!!!!
The Corniche will be grid-locked for hours......
Good on them and I wish Qatar all the best - it really will be a fabulous thing if they win
(even though they are up against Australia)
(yay go Australia...lol....)
