The AFR Team has its say on the curious cases of Qatar & Russia: Neoliberalism at its finest?
The AFR Team has its say on the curious cases of Qatar & Russia: Neoliberalism at its finest?
The AFR team is sharing its diverse perspectives on the drama that unfolded yesterday in Switzerland in a series of posts throughout the next day or so. The series features perspectives from our writers who call places like Montreal, Paris, Kuala Lumpur, Sydney, London, Manilla, Boston, and Lisbon home. We continue with the perspective of Soraya Soemadiredja, a recent graduate of the University of Toronto now living in Manila. She didn’t hold back. Enjoy.
Russia and Qatar? “YES! FIFA proves once again they’re all about the money!” And, more specifically: “Are you surprised your general culture of neo-liberalism has destroyed your own shot of hosting a World Cup in favour of two countries about which you westerners have unjustified and generally unfair stereotypes and generalisations?”*
In all seriousness, with Qatar’s bid I have a sincere and perhaps somewhat naïve hope that the technology and stadiums they promised for the “sustainability of soccer” will be able to be exported (at a reasonable price!) to developing countries where there is a need and a desire for it, and do so in an (albeit expensive) less environmentally destructive manner, since it’s clear the country has the financial capacities for such research and development. The Middle East has always been a region with populations of voracious football consumers and this will bring Middle Eastern culture to the forefront and allow a new region to contribute to the history of the World Cup while sharing with the world what they are.
(Source: philosofooty)
