Listen, I'm not a conspiracy theorist kind of guy. I tend to think that most things that people think are conspiracies are really just the result of gross incompetence meeting perfect timing. The result looking like a tangled web of intrigue, when it's really, really not.
However, I must admit, even I was sure the fix was in during today's awarding of the 2018 and 2022 World Cup Bid Decision by FIFA. You see, like the IOC, FIFA holds a competition for the privilege hosting the most watched sporting event in the world. The winning host country, aside from earning the prestige of hosting such a wonderful tournament, also get the privilege of spending millions and millions and millions of dollars to host a one month competition. (Dry Cough) After which, most nation's need to figure out what to do with the three brand new stadia they have built for the competition. (drier cough). One COULD argue that it is a curse to host either the Olympics or the World Cup given the outlay of money that can never be recouped after the tent comes down, but maybe another time for that thread.
Having said all that...today's decision regarding FIFA's awarding of the 2018 and 2022 world cups to...wait for it...Russia and Qatar? just smacks of payola and corruption.
Okay, I'll admit, selfishly I was hoping for Spain/Portugal 2018 and USA 2022, because it would give me TWO opportunities to see this competition in person. So maybe I'm bitter. Scratch that. I'm really bitter.
Listen, Russia. We all know you bought this one. England were the clear choice--they have the infrastructure, they have the stadiums, and they invented the damn game besides. And Qatar, I can't even look at you. You, a country the size of London, are going to host the World's competition over the USA, who has the infrastructure, the security, and the stadiums available to host the World Cup TOMORROW. Never mind in 12 years. My god FIFA. I know you want the World Cup to be hosted in EVERY part of the world, and I applaud that, but it is clear to me that someone drove a truckload of money to FIFA's house in order to push both of these bids through. I mean, why bother having finalists, if all FIFA is going to do is pick the most exotic location with the most resources available to pay off FIFA voters?
So, I guess this process is no different than the IOC circus. So...fine then. But won't anyone think about how this affects ME? I, who will never know the joy and spectacle of this event taking place in the District? Or of waking up at my sister's place in Lisbon in 2018 and heading down to the Alvalade to watch the USA hoist the World Cup...third place trophy? (I'm a realist).
Damnit.
A-MEN sir.
ReplyDeleteThe only good thing I can say from where I am sitting is that it goes to a new region in 2022. Thats about it. Once again, my faith in the fairness of this game and the people that run it (if i had any) is reduced to nothing, and my feeling that they go home at night, don speedos and jump into pools filled with money is confirmed. Hopefully the combined media of the english speaking world can now focus on them, and bring them down for good.