Global Systems & Governance - Qatar World Cup - Unequal flows of people, ideas and technology Flashcards
(14 cards)
Where is Qatar located?
- State of Qatar
- West Asia
- Borders Saudi Arabia adn Persian Gulf
What is the population of Qatar?
2.8 million
What is the GDP of Qatar?
$357 billion (2024)
What is the HDI of Qatar?
40 (2022)
What percentage of workers are foreign in Qatar?
85%
What percentage of the population is female?
25%
What is society like in Qatar?
- Same sex relationships are illegal
- Alcohol restricted in public areas
- Strict laws on public behaviour (e.g swearing)
Why has Qatar chosen as the World Cup host?
- Won ballot in 2010
- Accused of paying FIFA officials but cleared after 2 year investigation
- Chaiman of FIFA admitted it was a “mistake” to award the World Cup to Qatar
How were foreign workers treated in Qatar?
- 6,500 migrant workers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka have died in Qatar
- The government said its accident records showed that between 2014 and 2020, there were 37 deaths, only three of which were ‘work-related’.
How many foreign workers have worked on World Cup projects?
- Qatar has built 7 stadiums for the World Cup finals as well as a new airport, metro system, series of roads and around 100 new hotels.
- An entire city has been constructed around the stadium which will host the final match.
- Qatar’s government says that 30,000 foreign labourers were hired just to build the stadiums. Most come from Bangladesh, India, Nepal and the Philippines.
What is the treatment of women like in Qatar?
- Under Sharia law, women in Qatar are heavily restricted and required to obtain permission or be accompanied by a dedicated male guardian, when getting married, studying, working in government jobs, travelling abroad and receiving some kinds of reproductive healthcare.
- Foreign nationals must have a similar style make guardian to obtain visas and need their permission to obtain a driver’s license and work in the country.
- Three female referees are presiding over major men’s games for the first time at Qatar 2022.
What are the LGBTQ rights in Qatar?
There have been reports of some same sex couples being refused bookings at World Cup hotels.
Qatari officials have said they will not change their laws on the LGBT community, but no visiting fan will be discriminated against at the tournament.
A recent report by Human Rights Watch found that LGBT Qataris were being arbitrarily arrested for their sexuality or gender. It claimed some had been locked in underground prisons and subjected to verbal and physical abuse.
What is the heat like in Qatar?
Usually, the World Cup happens in the summer, but this would have meant teams playing in temperatures of up to 43C.
In 2015 FIFA said the tournament would instead run in November to December, when conditions would be much cooler (between 26C and 21C). It was also a shorter tournament, lasting from just 29 days instead of 32, and the newly built stadium would have special cooling technology.
How are migrant workers treated in Qatar?
Qatar’s ‘kafala system’ is a set of labour laws which allow Qatari individuals of businesses to confiscate workers’ passports and stop them leaving the country. Human rights groups say this has given developers free reign to exploit them, exposing them to gruelling working conditions for little pay and not allowing them to go home until projects materialise.
There have been reports of migrant worker deaths that range from a few dozen to several thousands in the 12 years of preparation for the tournament.
