Qatar Ramps Up World Cup Work; Vonn Eyes Men's Race; Rugby for Olympic Stadium?

Qatar 2022 Ramps Up Preps

Qatar 2022 is taking major steps forward in the organization of the FIFA World Cup, including the announcement of five stakeholder cooperation agreements and the finalization of a strategic plan for 2012-2015.

On Sunday, the Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee unveiled the deals with Qatar Rail, Ashghal, Kahramaa, Aspire Zone Foundation and Qatari Diar at a signing ceremony in Doha’s Four Seasons Hotel.

The companies all have responsibilities and projects that will play a key role in delivering the infrastructure required for the 2022 finals.

Qatar 2022 Supreme Committee secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi said the signing of the stakeholder cooperation agreements was "a symbol of the unity that exists in Qatar in relation to successfully delivering the Middle East’s first FIFA World Cup".

Organizers also updated stakeholders on progress across the World Cup project, indicating the master schedule for all stadium construction will be revealed after consultation with FIFA. The Gulf state is investing around $4 billion in building 12 host stadia. Nine are being built from scratch with three existing venues to be renovated and expanded.

In a release from Qatar 2022, there was no mention of progress on cooling technologies for the host stadia that are crucial to the World Cup project if the tournament is to be staged in the searing heat of the nation’s desert summer per the current plan.

For more on Qatar 2022, visit World Football INSIDER.

Rugby for Olympic Stadium?

London’s Olympic Stadium is listed as one of the 17 potential venues for the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Five English Premier League football stadia, including Manchester United’s Old Trafford, are also on the shortlist announced Monday by World Cup organizers.

The International Rugby Board will cut the shortlist to 10 to 12 venues early next year.

The IRB is also expected to finalize a venue location for rugby sevens at the Rio 2016 Olympics by next month.

Vonn Targets Men’s Downhill

Olympic downhill champion Lindsey Vonn is asking the International Ski Federation if she can race alongside the men at next month’s World Cup opener.

Reuters reports she wrote to men's race director Gunter Hujara for permission to compete Nov. 24 in Lake Louise, Alberta, where she’s won nine of her 26 downhill World Cups.

"I’d like to have one chance in my life to race against them," Vonn told The New York Times. "Annika Sorenstam did it in golf and paved the way for women. I’m not asking for World Cup points. I’m not asking for any of that. I just want the chance to compete."

The problem, according to FIS women's race director Atle Skaardal, is that the track also hosts the women a week after the men.

"It's complicated because no racer is supposed to ski on a race course a week prior to his or her own competition," he was quoted by Reuters.

"If Lindsey Vonn could train and compete with the men in November, she would have a huge advantage on her rivals the following week during the women's races on the same course."

FIS reportedly discussed the request during last week’s meeting of its Alpine Board and will rule Nov. 4 after a meeting of the ruling Council – assuming the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association files the required paperwork.

"We greatly respect Lindsey for her accomplishments as well as her interest in this new challenge," the USSA said Sunday in a statement.

"But we have not yet had an opportunity to formally discuss it with Lindsey and FIS."

IAAF Athletes of the Year

Choices for the IAAF’s Athletes of the Year are Olympic champions all around.

International press, athletes and members of the IAAF family are being asked to select among 10 male and 10 female candidates by Oct. 28.

Yohan Blake, Usain Bolt, Ashton Eaton, Mohamed Farah, Robert Harting, Kirani James, Renaud Lavillenie, Aries Merritt, David Rudisha and Christian Taylor are the men’s nominees.

The women’s are Valerie Adams, Tirunesh Dibaba, Jessica Ennis, Allyson Felix, Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, Yelena Lashmanova, Sally Pearson, Brittney Reese, Sanya Richards-Ross and Barbora Špotáková.

Each of the 20 won at least one gold medal at London 2012.

The top vote-vote getters will be culled into two shortlists from which the Council of the International Athletic Foundation will pick the winners – to be announced Nov. 24 in Barcelona during the 2012 Centenary Celebrations.

Reported by Mark Bisson and Matthew Grayson

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