DUBAI: Qatar is keeping quiet about the American and Swiss raids that have rocked FIFA and thrown another unwelcome spotlight on the tiny Gulf nation’s hosting of the 2022 World Cup.

The Supreme Committee for Delivery and Legacy, which is leading Qatar’s development of World Cup venues and other projects, has so far declined repeated requests to comment since the investigations became public on Wednesday.

So has Qatar’s government. The silence stands in sharp contrast to comments by Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose country will host the World Cup four years before Qatar.

Qatar’s leadership sees the hosting of international sporting events, including the 2006 Asian Games and 2011 Asian Cup in football, as a way to boost the country’s standing on the global stage.

The energy-rich country earlier this month played host to a Diamond League track meet, and will host the world athletics championships in 2019.

Qatar hasn’t ruled out making another Olympic bid after failing to secure the 2020 Games.

Published in Dawn, May 29th, 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play