Qatar plans to build first World Cup stadium by 2015

Qatar is planning to complete construction of its first stadium for the 2022 FIFA World Cup by 2015, according to the Gulf state's news agency.

On Monday the Qatar News Agency reported that program management for the stadium project will be assigned by the end of this year with the first of Qatar's planned 12 stadia for the tournament set to feature a carbon-neutral cooling system to nullify the extreme heat of the Arabian Gulf summer. Prior to the World Cup, Qatar plans to host a major football tournament in 2020 as well as the 2021 Confederations Cup, the traditional dress rehearsal for the World Cup, the report added.

Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee Secretary General Hassan Al Thawadi explained "we are looking to complete the first stadium with cooling system technology by 2015," adding that installing program management for the stadium would "set the ball rolling for the major project in the first quarter of next year."

US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Market Access and Compliance within the International Trade Administration, Michael Camunez, told the Gulf Times after a meeting with Thawadi on Monday that "more than a billion people will be watching the tournament which will showcase Qatar to the world just like the Beijing Olympics opened the world's eyes to China's transformation."

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