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Connect the World

Will 2022 World Cup Be In Summer or Winter?; 111 Dead, 200 Missing After Boat Capsized Off Italian Coast

Aired October 04, 2013 - 15:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

BECKY ANDERSON, HOST: Well, billions will watch it and billions will be spent on it, FIFA confirms that Qatar will host the World Cup, a first for the Middle East region. Tonight, though, the timing of football's biggest even still hangs in the balance.

Tonight, a special edition of Connect the World. Live from Doha, we're going to hear from all sides on what has bene a controversial day for FIFA about whether the event fans give up their summers for will actually held in the summer of 2022 at all.

Hello, and welcome to this special edition of Connect the World from the Qatari capital of Doha.

It may be nine years away, but the 2022 World Cup is already dominating headlines around the world. Earlier today, football's world governing body, FIFA, agreed to set up a task force to look at moving the date of the World Cup in 2022. No decision will, though, be taken before the last ball is kicked in Brazil's World Cup, which of course is coming up next summer.

Tonight, in this special program, though, I'm going to speak to the executive director of the Qatar supreme committee on football, Nasser Al Khater (ph). I'll get his reaction to allegations of poor worker conditions for the thousands of migrant laborers building the infrastructure needed for the tournament.

And later, I'll show you some of the cooling technology Qatar is developing as part of its preparations for a summer World Cup.

And we'll get reaction for you from football fans around the world.

And former international footballer David Ginolla (ph) and your man Nick (inaudible) is with us tonight on all of the events of today.

First, though, let's cross to Alex Thomas who is in Zurich at FIFA's headquarters to discuss what came out of this two day meeting. Your thoughts, sir?

ALEX THOMAS, CNN SPORTS CORRESPONDENT: Well, we had so many journalists from around the world here, Becky, that one of the FIFA officials was trying to explain why the wi-fi kept letting us down. They never had so many reporters here. That gives you an indication of the global interest because we thought that finally almost three years after giving the 2022 World Cup to Qatar we were going to get a decision on whether it will be held in that country's winter or summer months.

But no, instead, Sepp Blatter with a bit of a grin on his face, it has to be said, because he feels like he's ducked a bit of bullet on this one, has kicked it into the long grass, excuse all the sporting cliches. But we are not going to get a decision on this for at least a year, possibly longer. It could even slip into 2015, and that's interesting, because Sepp Blatter, having previously said this would be his last term as head of football's world governing body, may yet use this issue of Qatar as an election issue if it comes to anyone trying to challenge him to lead world football.

As it was, Blatter did reveal this consultation process has started. We do know that it will be led by FIFA's general secretary, Jerome Valca (ph). And he'll be helped by the head of Asia's football conferderation as well.

They've been given two months to set out a roadmap. And after that, they'll begin speaking to all the stakeholders, and there are lots of them, about how to extricate themselves from this complicated tangle of their own making.

The only thing that Mr. Blatter was absolutely definite about, Becky, was that in 2022 football's World Cup will be held in Qatar. It could yet be switched to winter, that seems inevitable because of the dangerously high heat in Qatar during June and July, but certainly not before lots of discussion.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEPP BLATTER, FIFA PRESIDENT: I wanted to create a discussion on the summer or winter. And I do not expect it that we go and make a decision now. We cannot make a decision without having consulted our partners. It is impossible. It is impossible.

If we are going to play in winter, without the consequences on our (inaudible) that FIFA has towards the sponsors and others, or to the leagues and other professional organizations.

But I cannot foresee what it will be. Unfortunately, I'm not a prophet.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

THOMAS: He's not a prophet, Becky, but he's certainly a very good political game player. Sepp Blatter, FIFA's president, seems a little bit on the defensive, starting the news conference with his opening remarks all in French. It is his preferred language, but his English is perfectly good. It took him nine minutes before he even brought up the subject of Qatar even though he knew full well that was the whole reason that the world media had descended on FIFA house, as they call it, here in Zurich, Becky.

ANDERSON: All right, Alex, thank you for that. That brings up and obvious question o you, doesn't it. Why didn't FIFA know it was hot in the summer?

Well, of course they did. Let me just remind you what this stot of -- these tempreatures are like. It's 34 degrees as we speak here in Doha. It is after 10:00 at night. And it's October. It's not June or July whe nthis summer tournament would be held.

Of course they knew about tempreatures, didn't they?

I want to show you an excerpt from FIFA's own report evaluating Qatar's bid for the World Cup.

This is one of the documents FIFA's members used to decide who will host the tournament. And right on page five is this, "the fact that the competition is planned in June and July, the two hottest months of the year, has to be considered as a potentially health risk for players, officials, the FIFA family and spectators." Remember, this report was produced before FIFA awaded Qatar the right to hold the World Cup. Taht, of course, was back in 2010 some three years ago now.

It also includes a chart -- if that part of the report, by the way, wasn't clear enough, it also includes a chart showing summer temperatures in Qatar which can remain as hot as 34 degrees Celcius even at 10:00 pm. Well, I've just shown you that in October it is 34 degrees and it is cooling down a lot at this time of year.

One man who knews -- who is closely involved in oall the plans for the World Cup tournement to be held here in nine years time is Nasser Al Khater. He's the exectuive director of the 2022 superme committee for -- in charge of getting the country ready for the World Cup. He joins me now from outside al Saad (ph) stadium, which is just up the road from where we are.

And I know sir, hot off the plane from Zurich, from FIFA's meeting at FIFA headquarters. So we very much appreciate your time tonight.

Was there every any doubt in your mind that FIFA would ever pull this World cup and start the bridding process again?

NASSER AL KHATER, QATAR 2022 SUPREME COMMITTEE: Hi, Becky.

No ,there was no doubt in our mind. I men,a we were very confiden from the moment that we won. And we remain confident.

I think today the statement by President Blatter is was just a reaffirmation for the wider public that, you konw, the World Cup is staying in Qatar in 2022.

ANDERSON: Listen, I want to clarify something for our viewres around the worldabout this scheduling issue, because it's an enormous issue, not leat for fans and domestic leagues who might be playing their games in the winter season over the period when this World Cup may, indeed, happen here. But for broadcasters who had already bought the rights to a summer World Cup. Was scheduling ever discussed with you during the bidding process, or indeed after you won this bid?

KHATER: Becky, we've bid for a summer World Cup. All our plans and our delivery is based on a summer World Cup. Our intentions are for a summer World Cup.

Now, based on today's announcment of this stask force being set up, there is an understanding that there's going to be a consultation period and any decision will only be made after the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.

Now this has no impact on us. Our planning, our delivery will continue as we've always planned. Our cooling technology, which is a legacy that we want to contribute to the world, to contribute to regions and countries that have similar climates as Qatar and as the region.

And this is something that we feel is going to open the doors for other countries to be able to host big events in their countries.

So, going back to your question, I mean, there's a date of summer of winter only began after -- only began after we won the rights to host the World Cup. And to be honest with you, it was something that was discussed within football circles, but I think this is the first time that it's officially now taking a certain form in this new task force.

ANDERSON: Sure. And let's be clear, this is a FIFA problem, tnot a Qatar problem. As you rightly suggest, you've always said when this issue came up that you could host this in either the summer or winter -- and you're clarifying for us tonight...

KHATER: Becky, I have a problem with sound again. So, I can't hear you...

ANDERSON: OK, let me try one more question with you. Because you talk about -- can you hear me?

I think that we've lost Mr. al-Khater, which is a shame, because he was talking there about the legacy of this World Cup. And Qatar absolutely determined that there will be some wonderful legacies off the back of what is the biggest sporting even in the world.

It seems, at least, we've got Mr. al-Khater back. Sir, you were talking about legacies of this World Cup and talking about the cooling systems and how this may be something that you could -- that other organizations and tournaments could use going forward. There also may be a legacy with regard to workers' rights. And I just want to put some of this to you. Qatar has, as you know, faced a lot of criticism in recent weeks about the alleged deaths of migrant laborers working on its World Cup projects, because of unsafe working conditions and extreme heat. And in the past couple of days, we've reported on the living conditions of migrant workers and how some employers here hold on to their passports, making it impossible for them to leave the country.

FIFA head Sepp Blatter, sir, says it is Qatar's responsibility to address these concerns. Let's just have a listen to what he said at the meeting today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEPP BLATTER, FIFA PRESIDENT (through translator): This is not FIFA's first responsibility, but we cannot ignore it and it touches me. But it is not an intervention by FIFA that is going to change something, it is Qatar that needs to intervene and Qatar has confirmed to me that they are going to do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Sir, how do you ensure that the legacy of this World Cup here in this tiny Gulf region will be an improvement in workers' rights, not just here in Qatar, perhaps, but in the region as a whole?

We've got the gremlins with us this evening. The technology is letting us down.

I do know, it's got to be said, that the Qatar Supreme Committee on the World Cup here is very much taking a lead. They tell us they've already set up a workers' rights charter. The government here today also confirming that they have hired an independent law firm to conduct what is an independent inquiry into workers' rights and conditions here. And we will report on that when the body indeed released its report.

So, things are on the move here, but they certainly have, to a certain extent, overshadowed what has been the footballing side of this tournament.

I think we've got Mr. al-Khater, back. And I do want him to respond to the question that I put to him. Mr. al-Khater, I asked you to how you will ensure that workers' rights and improvement in workers' rights could be a legacy of this World Cup not just here in Qatar, but around the region?

KHATER: I mean, thanks for pointing it out. We've always said this, I mean, as you probably heard, there was a lot of people talking about, you know, why the World Cup would be hosted in Qatar. And I'm saying that the World Cup is the best catalyst for improvements in different spheres, whether it's economic, social, human, technological, environmental. And we are capitalizing on this World Cup for all sorts of improvement.

And now since we're on the topic of workers' welfare, from the very beginning we've taken the issue of workers' welfare at the Supreme Committee very seriously. We've set up an internal team. They've put together a strategy. The workers' charter has been issued over six months ago. And now we're also working with organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch to work on contractual language that will be embedded in all our contracts. And we will make sure that all -- the minimum standards will be upheld and enforced.

And I also want to that there is very good examples here in Qatar of excellent working conditions that we need to highlight, especially in the oil and gas industry, which we're learning a lot from. And we want to implement very similar standards as the oil and gas industry, which have excellent safety records and excellent welfare records. And I think it's going to be something that will be a model that can be rolled out in the region.

ANDERSON: Yeah, it's interesting, I can see you accepting to a certain degree that there are -- that problems exist. And it's good to hear you talking about how you might address those.

The -- your secretary general today I know quoted in one of the British press is saying the World Cup will not be built on the blood of innocents.

It's nine years from now. We won't see a ball kicked in Qatar until then.

Just talk me through the sort of preparations, the scope of the preparations, briefly, between now and then?

KHATER: Well, I mean, we're going to be making some very important announcements in the near future, Becky. And this mainly has to do with stadiums and infrastructure. So we're going to be before the end of the year making some announcements on that front. I can't really announce it right now, because we just -- we want to keep it for the right time.

I think we've -- right now we were done with our master plan from now until the nine years. We are in discussions with FIFA. They are looking at all our plans. And other than the infrastructure plans, we're developing -- let's talk on the legacy, for example. We just made that announcement in the Clinton Global Initiative, working together with Qatar national food security program who have looked at our cooling technology and have said that this technology is ideal for food production. And what we're looking to do is some of the training sites that we're developing will be converted into greenhouses that will utilize this cooling technology for food production.

Now this is something that's going to contribute to Qatar's self- sufficiency. As you know, Qatar imports 90 percent of all its food. So minimizing the imports and being self-sufficient is something key and strategic. And I think also this is something that can go towards the 2 billion people around this world who also suffer from food shortage. And this technology, if it's rolled out, if it's successful, which we believe it is, I think can go a long way to seeing how sport can actually tackle global challenges, which I think is great.

ANDERSON: All right.

Well, we appreciate your time. As I say, hot off the plane from Zurich tonight. And I appreciate with you bearing with the technical issues that we've had. It's been a pleasure to talk to you. Thank you for your candid answers to the questions.

We will take a very short break at this point. Thank you, sir.

Coming up, I'm going to ask the man in charge of Qatar's proposed stadium cooling system how he can guarantee that the system will work, will keep those players, the fans, the officials, everybody calm and cool during the tournament here. That coming up after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Rough seas have meant the suspension of the search for more victims of a shipwreck off the coast of Italy. It was one of the worst ever disasters involving African migrants trying to reach European shores.

The boat was headed for the island of Lampedusa when it caught fire and capsized. 111 bodies have been pulled from the water, some 200 people, though, are still unaccounted for, many believed buried in the wreckage.

The UN refugee agency says all but one of the 155 survivors are from Eritrea.

Now it says the tragedy should be a wake-up call about the plight of people so desperate for a better life that they pay smugglers to take them on one of these dangerous journeys.

Pope Francis, who recently visited Lampedusa, calls the disaster a disgrace.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

POPE FRANCIS (through translator): It doesn't matter that there are children that die of hunger, it doesn't matter if so many families don't have anything to eat if they don't have the dignity to bring home the bread, it doesn't matter if so many people need to run away from hunger, need to look for freedom, and with so much sorry we learn that they find death like yesterday in Lampedusa. Today is a day of tears.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, CNN's Matthew Chance is there. He joins us with -- excuse me, the very latest. And some harrowing, harrowing images of bodybags just lined up on the dock there at Lampedusa. What's the latest on this rescue and recovery exercise?

MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, really harrowing images, Becky. In fact, a whoel sort of warehouse on the port site has been given over to house the corpses that have been brought in so far, 111 of them. They've also had to ship in extra coffins from the mainland to this island of Lampesuda to cater for the immense need that's fallen upon them.

As I say, 111 people confirmed dead, 155 people have survive. They're in a detention facility right now and are being processed as immigrants.

But you might be able to see that the weather has really picked up around me. There's very high winds, there's very rough seas as well. And that's forced the recovery teams, the divers to, for the moment at least, suspend their activities around the wreckage site, which means that there are a great many migrants still unaccounted for after their vessel from North Africa capsized and sank.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE: Recorded by a diver from the Italian fire service, this is our first glimpse of the migrant boat that sank off Lampedusa. It's resting 47 meters, more than 150 feet, underwater. And according to officials, may has as many as 200 bodies still onboard.

ADMIRAL FELICIO CROCETTA, HEAD OF ITALIAN COAST GUARD (through translator): We will continue all day and all night until we are able to bury these bodies.

CHANCE: New video has also emerged of rescue workers pulling survivors to safety. Italian authorities are investigating why the boat, which had engine trouble, wasn't reported in the area before it sank. More lives could have been saved.

From their initial interviews with survivors, aid workers say the migrnats, mainly from Eritrea and Somalia, assumed they'd reached safety when they saw the lights of Lampedusa. But no passing boats stopped to help them. So some on board lit a fire to attract attention. The fire engulfed the vessel, causing panic and the boat to capsize.

Some local fishermen, like Domenico, were among the first to arrive. He spotted people in the water, he told me, as he was returning from a night at sea. Frantically, he pulled 20 on board, including two dead.

"It was very difficult to get them out," he says. "Because they were covered in gasoline. They were nearly naked and slippery. Then, they just hugged me and said, thank you, thank you."

The focus, say Italian officials, is now recovering the others entombed on the bottom of the Mediterranean Sea.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CHANCE: Well, Becky, Italians have been shocked by the scale of this latest disaster. It's been a national day of mourning here. Flags have been flying at half staff. Schools around the country have been observing a minute silence as the country, Italy, tries to come to terms with what is the worst migrant shipwreck that it's ever seen.

ANDERSON: Matthew, thank you for that.

Listen, this is a journey of thousands of miles. These migrants have made thay journey only to fall at less than a mile from shore. You may wonder why so many people are willing to risk their lives for what is a new start in Europe. Well, just consider this year's Human Rights report on Eritrea. And I quote it. I says torture, arbitrary detention and severe restrictions on freedom of expression, association and religious freedom remain routine in Eritrea. In addition to ongoing serious human rights abuses, forced labor and indefinite military service force thousands of Eritreans to flee the country every year.

Ending in catastrophe for so many.

All right, we are going to take a very short break at this point. We have got special programming on the World Cup coming up after this. And your headlines.

How do you cool an entire stadium? Designers plan to convert the sun's energy into cold air. We talk to the man behind that.

And, later, former French international football star David Ginola (ph) answers your questions surrounding the Qatar controversy. Send in your questions at #CNNXO. @BeckyCNN is my Twitter handle, that's what we call it these days. I'm not sure if we (inaudible). Back after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ANDERSON: Half past 10:00 in Doha. These are your top stories this hour.

FIFA wants a more thorough review into whether the 2022 World Cup should be moved from Qatar's summer to its winter, because eof the heat. But President Sepp Blatter says no decision will be made before the 2014 tournament, which of course is being held in Brazil.

Rough seas have forced rescuers to delay their search for more victims of a shipwreck off the coast of Italy. At least 111 African migrants were killed when their boat capsized yesterday. Some 200 others are still unaccounted for. The U.N. refugee agency says all but one of the 155 survivors are from Eritrea.

U.S. authorities have found medications to treat schizophrenia along with anti-depressants after searching the apartment of the woman who led them on a deadly car chase in the U.S. Capitol Thursday. Police say they still don't know why 34-year-old Miriam Carey rammed a White House gate them took off.

U.S. Republican leaders have blasted the president and Democratic leaders for what they say is a refusal to negotiate over ObamaCare. Meanwhile, President Obama himself said he'd be happy to negotiate with Republicans, but only after the government is reopened.

Those are your headlines.

This is a special edition of CONNECT THE WORLD.

We're focusing on what has been an important day for the world (INAUDIBLE) around the world. Think FIFA, think controversy, it seems, once again.

Earlier in the day, they announced it will set up a task force to decide if the games here, to be held in 2022 should be moved from the traditional summer in the Northern Hemisphere to a winter tournament.

FIFA President Sepp Blatter made one thing clear -- 2022 will be played in Qatar.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEPP BLATTER, FIFA PRESIDENT: Qatar will be played 2022. We don't know if it's winter or summer.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, while Brazil is spending $13.5 billion, we are told, nearly 25 times less than Qatar, if the games were to be moved to November or December from July -- we've been crunching the numbers -- broadcasters would stand to lose an awful lot of money.

Barclays Premier League plays through November and December. And the cost of these television rights is expected to top -- get this -- $5 billion. Costs spent in vain should the World Cup interfere with the season, at least in part.

If Qatar's World Cup were moved, it would also clash with pro-football in the United States. Broadcasters carrying the NFL, we are told, including the Super Bowl, pay about $3 billion a year -- we're just looking at the numbers here for you -- overall for television rights through 2022. It may be that FIFA has to do a lot of compensating if, indeed, they move these games.

So do get in touch.

What do you think about holding a summer World Cup in Qatar?

Should it be moved to the winter?

Have your say -- fash -- our Facebook page is facebook.com/cnnconnect. Your thoughts please @beckycnn.

We have got you now an interview that I conducted with the guy who is Qatar's top calling chief, as it were, the man who is in charge of making sure the stadia are cool enough for players and spectators, if, indeed, this tournament is in the heat of the summer.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DARIO CADAVID, QATAR 2022 SUPREME COMMITTEE:

He is basically taking Cortinex (ph) technology that is already available on the market, but it's not utilized in the way that we are proposing. So basically we are combining a series of Cortinex technologies in right now. We are packaging it and that's the innovation that we are -- have been providing for the system.

ANDERSON: But when Qatar says today it stands ready to host this World Cup in either the winter or the summer, this technology doesn't exist yet, does it?

So are they correct when they say they're ready?

CADAVID: We are correct, because, again, the technology, in individual parts, is a (INAUDIBLE). So basically we can take existing systems and do several combinations and it still will provide a cooler. That we are trying to do with the technologies to make it more and more efficient.

ANDERSON: Because the promises that have been made have been scale, sustainability...

CADAVID: Yes.

ANDERSON: -- and environmentally friendly...

CADAVID: Correct.

ANDERSON: -- technology. Once again, I put it to you, this is only prototype technology at present.

How can you -- how can you know that this will be developed on the sort of scale that you need for the stadia here?

CADAVID: It can be developed because as you see, for example, in this facility that we are getting air -- chilled air from -- from the diffusers...

ANDERSON: Sure.

CADAVID: When -- when you scale it, it is the same. The standard components are out there in the market.

So basically, if we decide today to have an air conditioned stadium providing similar to this one in a large scale for larger than this to provide the chill air, it's perfectly possible.

ANDERSON: Sure. And I've got to say, it is incredibly cool on what is a very warm night here in Qatar tonight. And the guys have just been out on -- on the field. They're not sweating any -- like as much as I -- as I thought they would be.

Will you, though, be disappointed if, in the end, FIFA decide to make this a winter tournament?

CADAVID: It will be disappointing in the sense that we cannot demonstrate to the world that it is just (INAUDIBLE) possible to have in our country in the summer. But in terms of summer or winter, for us, it doesn't make a big difference, because the technology, regardless of (INAUDIBLE) will be implemented.

Why will it be implemented?

Because the (INAUDIBLE), we want to (INAUDIBLE) throughout the year.

ANDERSON: What's keeping you awake at night?

I know we're nine years out, but what's keeping you awake at night?

CADAVID: Many things. I -- I am currently responsible to manage these issues about the cooling technologies, but I also am responsible for the sustainability part. We are committed to big targets in the sustainability...

ANDERSON: This is a big promise...

(CROSSTALK)

CADAVID: -- reducing energy consumption, reducing water consumption, all these carbon neutralities also are a big challenge. We're committed to -- to make the -- to provide the first World Cup -- carbon-neutral World Cup.

So all these issues keep me aware because many of these games have not been done before anywhere in the world.

(END VIDEO TAPE)

ANDERSON: Yes, got it.

All right, that's the chat about the cooling technology here. It would be an absolute first if they got the scale, sustainability and environmental technology right for what is this, the biggest sporting event in the world.

Let's find out how other countries compare to the sort of weather conditions that you've got here.

Jenny Harrison is at the Weather Center -- Jen.

JENNY HARRISON, ATS METEOROLOGIST: Well, Becky, let me start, first of all, with conditions where you are right now, what the actual temperature is. Now, it is 34 degrees Celsius. It is late at night, as you know. It is, in fact, 10:37 p.m. your time, 34 degrees Celsius.

It was 41 Celsius your high temperature today. And, of course, it is October, the beginning of October, sol the autumn months, not summer and not winter.

Now, the average temperature in winter in Doha would be around, the high temperature, 22 degrees Celsius. In summer, the average -- these are averages -- 41 degrees Celsius.

Remember, as well, these temperatures are always for the shade. That is not the the temperature in the sun.

Now, of course, (INAUDIBLE) is about for inside a stadium, where it is air conditioned. But let's just compare these temperatures with other destinations, or, shall we say, where we've had to hold the World Cup before.

So June to July, the averages, first of all, Johannesburg back in 2010. Now, the average high, 16 Celsius. As it happened, it was a particularly cool couples of months in South Africa, so temperatures were actually below that. That's actually not that bad for the players. They can actually warm up and they're used to playing -- a lot of them, anyway, in European leagues, of course -- to playing in very cold weather during the winter months.

Now, meanwhile, in Rio, in 2014, the average high is about 25 degrees Celsius in those months. In Moscow, which is in 2018, the average is 23 degrees. But you compare all of that with Doha and, of course, it is just way off the scale.

Again, just to remind you, the average high in the shade is 41 degrees Celsius. The overnight temperature is 21 degrees Celsius. So warmer than the actually daytime high in those other cities.

Now, looking at the extremes, because, remember, that's how we get a lot of these average temperatures. It's the mean average, after all. The winter extremes, we've had, at times, the high temperature as high as 31 degrees Celsius. That is still higher than the summer highs in those other locations.

And then the summer extremes, we've actually had temperatures as high as 49 degrees Celsius.

Now, had we had the World Cup being played this June, June just gone, this 2013, in Doha, all but seven days of that month, the temperature was over 40 degrees Celsius. The high temperature that was actually recorded was just over 46 degrees Celsius. And the lowest overnight temperature was actually as warm as 27.5 degrees Celsius.

So it really is a very, very warm time of year, of course, during those summer months.

In winter, it is still pretty warm, but it's certainly cooler than in the summer months.

But Becky, I have to say, of course, this is all about the spectators and the players in the stadium. But as for what those spectators do during the daytime hours, when they're not actually watching a game, I don't know.

And the other thing to say, Becky, I have to say, of course, is I wouldn't fancy paying -- paying for those air conditioning bills in any of those stadiums, but we will wait and see what the decision is.

ANDERSON: Yes, the committee here telling me that part of the deal is that they will provide some shade for fans and the fans (INAUDIBLE). I mean if anybody could create an air conditioned country, it's probably Qatar.

Jen, thank you very much, indeed, for that.

Earlier today, I spoke to Lord Triesman out of loaded.

He was the chairman of England's losing bid for the 2018 World Cup. And I asked him whether he was aware of any talks of scheduling changes during the bidding process for what was the 2018 and 2022.

This is what he told me.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LORD TRIESMAN, FORMER FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION CHAIRMAN: I think I can say that most of the people who were involved and most of the countries involved in the 2022 bid would be absolutely astonished by the fact that it's potentially now going to be a winter World Cup. Many of them would have probably adjusted their bids in significant ways. They spent a great deal of money, as did Qatar itself, of course, in order to orchestrate effective bids for a summer's -- a summer tournament in 2022.

They will be feeling very, very aggrieved. And so will many of those who've got other sports competitions, which would then be impacted significantly by a winter -- a winter tournament.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: All right, we're going to take a very short break after that.

Well, as you know, lad, David Ginola in the house for you this evening. I've got a secret weapon with me here in Qatar, as well.

We're going to talk. Viewers' comments, viewers' Tweets. Lots of stuff around a Web -- a live Web chat that David and I conducted today.

That coming up after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTONIO MAZA, ARGENTINA: There should be another way. It should be another country and try to find another place to do it instead of changing the time of the year.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MART BOLUS, UK: To me, to have the matches in the winter, they'll have to rescheduled. And in 2022, there will be the Winter Olympics.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ANDERSON: Well, earlier today, CNN hosted a live Web chat where we answered some of your questions surrounding the Qatar World Cup controversy.

This is former French international football star David Ginola Tweeting from our London bureau during the Web chat. You've been Tweeting and posting questions to us all day.

And to answer some of them, David is in the house tonight, as well as former Premier footballer from Manchester City, Nicky Summerbee.

He joins me from Doha.

David, first question was from one of our Web tech guys today.

How do FIFA plan to compensate stakeholders in the event of a shift to winter?

What was your response?

DAVID GINOLA, FORMER FRANCE INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALLER: Well, I don't think they're going to -- they're going to change that. I think the World Cup in 2022. But they -- they make it clear that Qatar will host the 2022 World Cup, but it will not move the competition to the wintertime.

I'm pretty sure about that, because it's going to be too complicated for everything. You know, the season, the calendar, everything, every single league in equipment, in the world, will have to change absolutely everything. It will affect, as well, the following season, because if you have two months of playing in this competition, they will have to take on the year -- or on the next year. So it would -- the season after would end up in August.

ANDERSON: Sure.

GINOLA: It will affect every single thing.

So I don't think they will move anything.

My concern and the only thing I hope...

ANDERSON: Interesting.

GINOLA: -- is the workup in Qatar, we create a bridge of understanding between the Middle East and the West countries, because I think there is a lack of comprehension sometimes, when we talk about countries. And that's a -- this is a real opportunity for a country like Qatar, representing the Middle East, to give a perfect...

ANDERSON: All right.

GINOLA: -- example of what Middle East countries can provide.

ANDERSON: Nicky, to -- to both of you, but perhaps I'll start with David, would it bother you playing in the sort of temperatures that Jenny Harrison has just described?

And would it bother you playing a World Cup tournament in the summer here?

GINOLA: Becky, you know, for me, I don't mind. You know, we are football players. So if we ask, if the -- our chairman asks us or our country asks us to play in the winter or in the summer, it doesn't matter. We represent our country.

The only thing is stadiums, training centers, facilities will be under (INAUDIBLE).

So I'm not worried at all about the players, I'm just worried about the fans, people who will travel to...

ANDERSON: Yes.

GINOLA: -- Qatar and be out there in the summer. That's my only concern. For the players, I don't see any problem at all.

ANDERSON: Yes. No, you make a very good point, David Ginola, Nicky, saying that he could play in these temperatures in the summer when -- or, indeed, in the winter. He's worried about the fans. And he says he doesn't think there will be a change in the tournament from the summer to the winter.

What about you?

NICKY SUMMERBEE, FORMER ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP FOOTBALLER: Oh, I don't know, you know, if anyone can do it, Qatar can pull it off. You know, obviously between the stadium itself, the outside stadium, which is air conditioned. And they play pretty much through the summer. They've been playing now (INAUDIBLE) Qatar (INAUDIBLE) league now without (INAUDIBLE). They will play (INAUDIBLE) what it is now.

But, yes, if you're going to look back, you know, you've got to think about the Mexico World Cup from 1970. (INAUDIBLE) friend of the family (INAUDIBLE). It was 110 with no water, as well.

So, you know, (INAUDIBLE) but, you know, we've been here a year and a half now, you know. And believe you me, this would be one of the wonders of the world.

ANDERSON: Yes.

SUMMERBEE: You can see everything behind you, what's going on with the building. I mean they'll have everything (INAUDIBLE)...

ANDERSON: And that's pretty good coming from a man who played for Man City, who's never, before he came here, thought of temperatures over, what, about 105 or 6 degrees?

SUMMERBEE: (INAUDIBLE).

ANDERSON: All right.

All right, next question.

Mohammed Tweeting, "Why isn't anyone commenting on the stadiums which will be dismantled and transported to poor countries so that they could enjoy soccer's success.

What were your thoughts on that earlier, David?

GINOLA: Well, that was a main concern when I -- I heard about Qatar was -- was bidding for the 22 -- 2022 World Cup, you know, because we -- to just over a million in the country, it's probably 300, 400 Qataris there, building 10, 12 stadiums.

Is it relevant to -- to have said that?

I think most of the thoughts would have to be, you know, you would have make decisions and discussions before, previous to the decision. I think for the future, we will have to think about we've got nine years to go until 2022. And I think it would be interesting to see what the stadiums could bring to Africa, for example. Whether countries in Africa would be able to play and use these facilities. Because I think Qatar can make some huge and fantastic things. And I guess -- and I think the stadiums will be fantastic.

ANDERSON: All right, OK.

Question three was from Saad D. He said, "Could technology be invented to allow air conditioning an open stadium on the pitch by that time?"

I can answer that question for you. The guy who I spoke to earlier on said absolutely, the technology exists already and he's got nine years to perfect it. It's in prototype at that moment, but you saw there one of the stadia which is going to be used at a -- as a training ground. It already has air conditioning and it was really, really cool.

On to question four. And this is from Konk. He says: "Moving the World Cup to winter is nothing but mere selfish interest. Don't we have Africans play in the cold in Europe every season?"

Very good point.

David?

David?

GINOLA: That's a very good point. I mean well, I -- my -- my main worries, like I said before, it's not really the players. It's not playing in the summer, because I think everything will be done to make sure that the players will play in good conditions anyway. (AUDIO GAP) to spend times in the streets in Doha waiting for games.

Are they going to be able to drink in the streets...

ANDERSON: Sure.

GINOLA: -- like they used to do in (INAUDIBLE), in -- in England, in France or in Spain or in Italy?

Is -- we used to have some habits sometimes, bad habits.

But will it be accepted in those countries?

I don't know. That's probably the question...

ANDERSON: All right...

GINOLA: -- we should ask.

ANDERSON: All right, thank you, David.

Very quickly from you, the Europeans making a big old fuss about it being played in the summer. That's just because they want to win this World Cup, is it -- is it just, you know, sour grapes at the end of the day?

SUMMERBEE: No. I mean no, it's -- it's natural, you know, that there is arguments. But people don't have a clue, really, what Qatar is all about. Like I said, we've been here a year and a half. I thought it was a desert before I came, which it's not at all. Everybody has been build behind you in seven years. They'll do the job.

And this will be, without a shadow of a doubt, this would be a World Cup that people will be -- won't forget, because they'll do the job and they'll do it properly. And when you're talking about stadiums and what you were talking about before, you know, there's so much good stuff, because what they want is a legacy. And mark my words, it's great news today for Qatar.

ANDERSON: Yes.

SUMMERBEE: And they're getting a World Cup in winter or summer. (INAUDIBLE)

ANDERSON: Good stuff.

All right, Nicky Summerbee, thank you very much.

David Ginola in London, we thank you.

That is it from me here in Doha.

We are going to wrap up this special edition of CONNECT THE WORLD.

I hope you've enjoyed it.

From us, a very good evening.

END