A good post Isobel and I agree. If it looks like there is sour grapes then please allow me to put some perspective on it. Football is not just a sport in the UK it is a passion for a lot of people. Of course there are those who don't get it and thats fine...but the truth is you put a few people together for more than 5mins and the conversation will normally have football in it somewhere. Many fans put their life on hold for 90 mins every week, they travel up and down the country following their team, and spend lots of time and money doing so. Just look at the pictures of men, women and children out in the cold celebrating the WC bidding and waiting with hopeful expectations.
Does that mean we deserve the WC? No it doesn't but it does mean that we are bitterly disappointed we lost it and in such circumstances emotions and feelings run high. Its sad to think that the next time we could potentially host it I and many other people who would love to take their kids to a WC in their home country will not get a chance to do so.
I think the key question is what is that criteria for a successful WC bid? If it is that you have never hosted it, that the developed infrastructure would substantially benefit your country, that you will furnish the pocket of FIFA with substantial amounts of money, that the game will be reaching a new audience then thats fine. I dont criticize that but be honest about it form the start. If that was always the case then FIFA were predetermined NOT to award it to the UK and USA (and possibly AUS although they have never hosted it) and in which case their whole bids were a farce and a waste of public money.
And some here may consider it perfectly natural to trade bids or ensure those voting had the 'incentive' to do so the 'right' way, but I don't and nor do the majority of people in the UK. So mix in bitter disappointment with a possibility of a bidding process that is not in accordance with our sense of fair play... and the result is a media frenzy and 'sour grapes'.
Anyway, the die is cast and the boats have come in. Sour grapes or justified complaint it makes no difference to the result. Of course the UK was not up against Qatar so its no odds to me on the front. I also think holding it in the Middle East is also a great thing to do for world politics. Sport builds bridges after all. At the end of the day I believe the people of Qatar and Russia are passionate about hosting the WC and I am sure both countries will overcome the inevitable hurdles any country would face in hosting such an event and ultimately hold a great WC.
A good post Isobel and I agree. If it looks like there is sour grapes then please allow me to put some perspective on it. Football is not just a sport in the UK it is a passion for a lot of people. Of course there are those who don't get it and thats fine...but the truth is you put a few people together for more than 5mins and the conversation will normally have football in it somewhere. Many fans put their life on hold for 90 mins every week, they travel up and down the country following their team, and spend lots of time and money doing so. Just look at the pictures of men, women and children out in the cold celebrating the WC bidding and waiting with hopeful expectations.
Does that mean we deserve the WC? No it doesn't but it does mean that we are bitterly disappointed we lost it and in such circumstances emotions and feelings run high. Its sad to think that the next time we could potentially host it I and many other people who would love to take their kids to a WC in their home country will not get a chance to do so.
I think the key question is what is that criteria for a successful WC bid? If it is that you have never hosted it, that the developed infrastructure would substantially benefit your country, that you will furnish the pocket of FIFA with substantial amounts of money, that the game will be reaching a new audience then thats fine. I dont criticize that but be honest about it form the start. If that was always the case then FIFA were predetermined NOT to award it to the UK and USA (and possibly AUS although they have never hosted it) and in which case their whole bids were a farce and a waste of public money.
And some here may consider it perfectly natural to trade bids or ensure those voting had the 'incentive' to do so the 'right' way, but I don't and nor do the majority of people in the UK. So mix in bitter disappointment with a possibility of a bidding process that is not in accordance with our sense of fair play... and the result is a media frenzy and 'sour grapes'.
Anyway, the die is cast and the boats have come in. Sour grapes or justified complaint it makes no difference to the result. Of course the UK was not up against Qatar so its no odds to me on the front. I also think holding it in the Middle East is also a great thing to do for world politics. Sport builds bridges after all. At the end of the day I believe the people of Qatar and Russia are passionate about hosting the WC and I am sure both countries will overcome the inevitable hurdles any country would face in hosting such an event and ultimately hold a great WC.