Qatari officials insist the country’s blistering heat won’t be a factor if it wins the right to host the 2022 World Cup. To make its case, the country’s organisers unveiled a $4bn plan yesterday to build nine stadiums and renovate three others — all with a high-tech cooling system they said will keep temperatures on the field at 27 degrees Celsius. The solar-powered system will pump cool air into the stadium through grills in the stands and be combined with roofs designed to protect fans and players from the sun. “For summer temperatures, we can completely eradicate the inhibition of hosting the World Cup because of weather,” said H E Sheikh Mohammed bin Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, head of the bid committee. http://thepeninsulaqatar.com/Display_news.asp?section=Local_News&subsection=Qatar+News&month=April2010&file=Local_News2010042924431.xml

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