Hillary unlike Obama congratulates Qatar as WC host
Sunday, 5 December 2010
MANAMA, Dec 4 (AFP): US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton congratulated Qatar on Friday for winning the bid to host the 2022 World Cup, a day after President Barack Obama said FIFA had made the "wrong decision."
"Let me congratulate Qatar on its most recent triumph:
winning the competition to host the World Cup in 2022," Clinton said at the opening of the annual Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain.
She said that hosting the World Cup was "more proof that Qatar and the region are at the leading edge of important world affairs."
At a ceremony in Zurich on Thursday, Qatar became the first Arab country-as well as the world's smallest and richest country-to win as World Cup host in 2022, beating bids by the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia.
"I think it was the wrong decision," Obama said at the White House, shortly after world football's governing body FIFA chose Qatar to host football's showcase event in 12 years.
"Let me congratulate Qatar on its most recent triumph:
winning the competition to host the World Cup in 2022," Clinton said at the opening of the annual Manama Dialogue security conference in Bahrain.
She said that hosting the World Cup was "more proof that Qatar and the region are at the leading edge of important world affairs."
At a ceremony in Zurich on Thursday, Qatar became the first Arab country-as well as the world's smallest and richest country-to win as World Cup host in 2022, beating bids by the United States, Japan, South Korea and Australia.
"I think it was the wrong decision," Obama said at the White House, shortly after world football's governing body FIFA chose Qatar to host football's showcase event in 12 years.