The life of the special envoy in Doha goes by with unusual speed. Between the trips to the Press Center and the daily transfers to the stadiums, time flies. The World Cup has already passed halfway through, there are barely ten days left in the tournament, and it seems like yesterday when some landed at the international airport in the Qatari capital, absolutely intrigued by what they were going to find in a country that aroused many unknowns. More than 20 days later all those possible fears have completely disappeared.
The organization is being a resounding success, whoever says otherwise is lying to them, burqas and skirts mix normally in the Souk and they have not yet cut off anyone's hand for stealing. Of course, the feeling of security in Doha is exemplary and theft does not seem the best way out. Point for Qatar.
Having said that, one of the big questions that the displaced are asking themselves is whether they are living in a kind of The Truman Show and if when FIFA packs up and leaves the country everything will go back to the way it was before. A kind of armageddon, as has been denounced so many times since the choice of the Qatari desert as the World Cup headquarters.
Locals are often outraged when they hear this kind of reflection. They deny everything and repeat that many lies have been published. That Qatar is not hell and that everyone is welcome, as we can confirm for now. In fact, the kindness of the thousands of workers and volunteers related to the tournament is exquisite, although here is also born the theory that they are all threatened by the evil Emir and that if they do not behave as they have been ordered they will be included in a blacklist. and cruelly punished when all foreigners return to their country. It is also hard to believe. Take these reflections as pure irony, that there are those who have very thin skin, happy world in which we live.
But opening this melon implies a much deeper debate than a few simple lines and, the truth is, hours after the elimination of Spain there are those who do not feel like being transcendent and prefer to opt for banalities to refresh their minds. The penalties against Morocco continue to be a very present ghost that, in addition, has caused the exodus of a good part of the Spanish press. Some happier than others.
The well-deserved farewell with two of them, partners in several battles already, enjoyed an excellent grilled sea bass in the heart of the Souk, ended up at the Mandarin Hotel in Msheireb having a "last drink" that for some was the first. A magnificent vodka with orange juice that was only possible thanks to Salim's generosity and professionalism. Faced with our disappointed face, the manager of the room, without asking – one had resigned himself to drinking a beer – decided to go down in the elevator, cross the street and get oranges. We definitely like Qatar. Thank you Salim.
