World Cup venue told to play fair

BANGKOK 21 November 2011: The awarding of the 2022 World Cup football extravaganza to Qatar has allowed the global trades union movement to jack up pressure on the Gulf states to safeguard the rights of the hundreds of thousands of migrant labourers who endure “inhuman working conditions” in building the gleaming new hotels, convention centres and airports.

A report, entitled “Hidden Faces of the Gulf Miracle”, was released by the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) last week. Documenting stories of the “migrant worker misery which lies behind the gleaming towers of Gulf cities,” it calls on both the governments of the Gulf states as well as the companies now queuing up for the lucrative World Cup-related contracts to fulfil their responsibilities.

“Conditions for migrant workers in the Middle East are unacceptable,” ITUC general secretary, Sharan Burrow, is quoted as saying. “The World Cup is a time when the eyes of the world will be on Qatar and the other nations in this region. We will do everything to see that FIFA lives up to its responsibilities, that multinationals providing goods for the World Cup and their supply chains are actually respectful of workers’ rights.” Read more

World Cup hangover bugs South Africa

JOHANNESBURG, 8 August 2011 – Many South African hotels expanded to make room for football fans during last year’s World Cup, but now face declining occupancy rates that are taking a toll on the industry.

In a sign of the tough times, the landmark Grace Hotel in Johannesburg’s trendy Rosebank district has announced it will shut its doors at the end of August.

“The hotel has suffered from both a reduction in overseas visitors and domestic travel, particularly a shrinkage in corporate business which has migrated away from five star accommodation,” said Hyprop, the firm that operates the Grace. Read more

Will Emirates pull sponsorship plug?

DUBAI, 1 June 2011 – Emirates airline, sponsor of all FIFA tournaments including the World Cup, said Tuesday it was “disappointed” with the corruption allegations gripping world football’s governing body.

“Emirates, like all football fans around the world, is disappointed with the issues that are currently surrounding the administration of this sport,” Emirates spokesman Boutros Boutros said in a statement.

“Emirates’ sponsorship of all FIFA Tournaments, including the FIFA World Cup, aims to help promote football and ensure that it is accessible to the billions of football fans; something FIFA has managed to do extremely well in recent years. Read more

ASEAN wants World Cup 2030

SINGAPORE, 19 January 2011 – Football-mad Southeast Asia may file a joint bid for the 2030 World Cup as part of efforts to forge closer ties among member countries, according to officials of the regional bloc.

The decision coincides with the hosting of the ASEAN Tourism Forum in Phnom Penh this week where tourism officials believe they can build a strong ASEAN brand through a promotion that was tagged during the event as ASEAN — Feel the Warmth.

Secretary general of the 10-nation Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Surin Pitsusan said the bloc’s foreign ministers had agreed to file a joint bid to host the tournament, held every four years by Fifa.

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Jet Airways fishes for World Cup traffic

Mumbai-based Jet Airways will start a new daily service, 14 April, to Johannesburg in South Africa. Passengers from Thailand will be able to connect with the new flight using the airline’s Bangkok-Mumbai service.

The airline’s CEO, Nikos Kardassis said: “South Africa’s reputation as a leading tourist and business destination and the fact that it will play host to the 2010 FIFA World Cup presents a huge opportunity for Jet Airways.”

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