2022 Qatar World Cup may deploy artificial clouds for cooling

The 2022 World Cup could be a lot cooler in the heat stroked country of Qatar after scientists have supposedly invented artificial clouds to shield the stadium from heat, BBC Sport reports.

The welfare of players and supporters were at stake due to the intense summer experienced in the Gulf. The temperature could peak at 50-degrees Celsius during June and July.

Qatar were named as the 2022 World Cup hosts by FIFA president Sepp Blatter in December, who suggested that the tournament be shifted to a winder date. But the 77-year-old later changed his stand and stated that the competition should be played in summer without an issue.

Qatar may use the clouds produced at $500,000 (about £310,000) each along with air conditioning the World Cup stadium with the help of solar power.

The clouds manufactured from a light weight carbon structure, contain helium gas according to Saud Abdul Ghani, head of the mechanical and industrial engineering department at the university where they were invented. The clouds are also powered by four solar engines via remote control.

The country is “well equipped to challenge the summer heat” according to Mohammed Bin Hammam, president of Asian Football Confederation, who plans on displacing Sepp Blatter as FIFA president.

FIFPro have their doubts about a summer tournament feeling that Qatar “does not provide suitable conditions for a festival of football such as the World Cup”. Qatar beat off competition from Japan, South Korea and the United States to host the tournament in a voting session on December 2, 2010 in Zurich.