FIRST it was cruise ships and tents in the desert – now Qatar is building floating hotels for World Cup fans.
Tournament chiefs in the tiny Gulf state have been forced into novel solutions to accommodate the one million supporters expected in November 2022.
Identical, solar-powered, floating hotels should accommodate 1,616 fans in all at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar
The innovative hotels in the small Gulf state will each have 101 guest rooms
Sixteen identical hotels – 72m long and 16m wide – on the shores of Qetaifan Island North will each offer 101 guest rooms, meaning a total of 1,616 people.
The solar-powered buildings will be near Lusail International Stadium, which hosts the World Cup opener and final.
It follows an announcement two months ago that organisers are chartering two cruise ships with 4000 rooms, to be berthed in Doha throughout the tournament.
Shuttle buses will take fans to train stations from where they will be able to reach the eight stadiums, all within a 21-mile radius of the city.
The 94,409-ton liner MSC Poesia can normally be found cruising the the world with an array of plush amenities.
These include three swimming pools, four whirlpool baths, a foyer waterfall to a Zen Garden, authentic Japanese sushi bar, state-of-the-art gym, mini-golf, tennis court, basketball court and poker room.
NEW PLEDGES ON WORKERS’ RIGHTS
Qatar – which is about the same size as Yorkshire but at 2.7million has half the population – faces the challenge of housing the fans of all 32 teams in the same city.
And with a current shortage of hotel rooms, Qatar has been forced to look at creative options.
Up to 40,000 supporters are likely expected to end up sleeping in ships and floating hotels, or camping in the desert close to stadiums.
But organisers have promised there will be enough room for everyone.
And alcohol, which is only partially legal in Qatar, will be widely served in designated fan zones.
Organisers revealed the plan for floating hotels as Qatar and FIFA published a 112-page “Sustainability Strategy” with pledges on workers and LGBT rights.
It also denied reports Israeli fans might not be allowed into the country.
The document stressed that FIFA events prohibit “discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or people on account of race, skin, colour, ethnic, national or social origin, gender, sexual orientation, language, religion, opinion, wealth birth or any other status”.
And having already promised the tournament will be carbon neutral, organisers are also pledging to improve “sustainable building standards and tools in Qatar” whilst seeking to use green building materials where possible.
Inside luxury cruise liner MSC Poesia that England fans can stay on at Qatar World Cup 2022
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
