Foreign Media: "Forced to Live in Shabby Containers and Caravans"
Unpaved Road to Fan Village... "Beds as Hard as Stone"
The exterior of the fan village revealed to the media ahead of the opening of the 2022 Qatar World Cup. Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] As the 2022 Qatar World Cup has opened, complaints are pouring in about the accommodation facility 'Fan Village' prepared by Qatar.
On the 20th (Korean time), the British BBC reported reviews of the accommodations reflecting the voices of soccer fans from around the world staying at the Fan Village. The 'Fan Village' is an accommodation facility built by Qatar to accommodate about 26,000 people in anticipation of 1.2 million tourists expected ahead of the World Cup. The daily accommodation fee is 175 pounds, approximately 280,000 won. According to the official Qatar World Cup website, the interior includes bedding for two people, a refrigerator, and a coffee maker.
However, those who stayed at the Fan Village say it resembles a 'refugee camp.' There are shabby containers and caravans on sand-covered floors, and tourists claim they had to check in even though construction was not yet completed. Some Fan Villages disclosed by the organizing committee were relatively comfortable, but most were still under construction or had poor facilities.
Reviews also mentioned that the roads leading to the village were poor. The media reported that the unpaved roads were winding and there were construction cranes nearby. Inside, there was only a bedroom table with two single beds and a lamp inside a tent made of thick plastic, and only one fan was available.
The British Guardian reported on the 18th (local time) that the Fan Village was still in poor condition 48 hours before the World Cup opening. According to the Guardian, near the Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium Fan Village, trucks and excavators were present, and there were huge holes and sand, suggesting that construction was not yet complete. In fact, the 'Free Zone' area of the Fan Village was known to be 30% incomplete as of the 21st.
One tourist said in an interview with the Guardian, "The air conditioner inside the accommodation does not work well, and the indoor temperature reaches 27 degrees even during the day," adding, "When the air conditioner is turned on, it makes a noise like a fighter jet taking off, making it difficult to use at night." Another tourist also said, "The bed is as hard as a rock, so sleeping on the floor is better," and described the reality of having to stay here for 10 days as a nightmare.
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