Qatar World Cup May Feature Carbon-Fiber ‘Clouds’
By Erik Malinowski March 24, 2011 | 12:45 pm | Categories: Oddball, Venues
Whoever’s planning to head out to the blistering heat of Qatar for the 2022 World Cup isn’t likely to see much cloud cover when they get there — at least not many natural clouds.
Engineers at Qatar University’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering are busy developing what they believe could act as artificial “clouds,” man-made saucer-type structures suspended over a given soccer stadium, working to shield tens of thousands of spectators from suffocating summer temperatures that regularly top 115 degrees Fahrenheit.
No firm dates have been set for the 2022 World Cup, and while some have floated the possibility of holding the tournament during the cooler winter months, embattled FIFA president Sepp Blatter has remained steadfast that the World Cup be held during the summer, as it always has been.
“At this stage there are no concrete plans to change the international match calendar,” said FIFA in a January 20 statement.
Qatari engineers claim they can ultimately construct each of the solar-powered clouds, which will be elevated with an on-board helium pocket and positioned through remote controls, for about $500,000 each.
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