Weather is hot topic for Qatar 2022 World Cup bid


JOHANNESBURG (AP) -Qatar's bid to host the 2022 World Cup is provoking a heated debate in South Africa.

Bid leader Hassan Al Thawadi says football officials from around the world are asking him how their national teams can play in the emirate's hot weather.

A Qatari World Cup would be played from June 3 to July 3 and temperatures this week hit 43 degrees Celsius (109 Fahrenheit).

It's been 35 Celsius (95 Fahrenheit) at 9:30 p.m. local time when late matches - including the final - would kick off.

Al Thawadi says Qatar will show FIFA a prototype in September of a solar-powered stadium cooling system that will regulate the air inside venues.

FIFA will choose the 2022 World Cup host in December.


Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/soccer/wires/06/25/2080.ap.soc.wcup.qatar.2022.0258/index.html#ixzz0rsdcuV1B