The major arguments would focus on the fact that the FIFA World Cup, in Saudi Arabia, would happen in 2034. Advocates pointed to the prospect of the country’s liberty to indulge in investments; however, the problem for which no solution has yet been implemented is that great cooling technologies are a must with high crowd levels and hot temperatures. This entails critical dangers as regards performance, aesthetic satisfaction, environment, and ecological soundness of the whole activity and its internationalism.
The Saudi Arabia Problem of Climate
Among the hottest countries on earth, Saudi Arabia’s climatic conditions have been a serious concern about holding the FIFA World Cup in the country. Although it shoots up to 50 C (122°F) at times during summer, it should be pretty unreasonably high during the relatively cooler months when the tournament will be held for any outdoor games.
It has to be controlled such that the players, fans, as well as staff members would be able to visit quite comfortably and safely. Modern cooling technologies were invented just to reduce the effects of such climates. However, such technologies cannot be effective and efficient at a scale that may be required for a World Cup.
Current Cooling Technologies and Challenges
This enables the former position to Saudi Arabia regarding its innovations in cooling technologies for stadiums just like what Qatar had done for its neighbor country by staging the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The majority of them rely on renewable sources of energy. That, however, is only possible to the extent and scale with effectiveness. Cooling systems account for nearly 50% of Saudi Arabia’s total annual electricity consumption in buildings.
Energy Consumption
This means taking in as much energy that goes to consuming and cooling the stadiums, as extreme it gets. Then, all this investment in renewable energy in Saudi with the quantity of cooling, which is going to consume the whole World Cup with stadium and fan cooling, plus training or any kind of hub meant for transport to this level, has not happened before. All the designs currently in place will not be able to cool off all venues at a highly huge environmental cost.
Inefficiency through Nature Air Cooled
Cooling large natural open-air stadiums is quite a difficult task. Air conditioning could lead to hot spots and cannot cool large areas evenly as air is provided space to escape towards the atmosphere, and thus the efficiency of the system can get marred by that along with uneven hot spots that are worst for audiences sitting at a very distance from cooling vents. Average temperatures in cities such as Riyadh have risen over 3°C over the last 40 years and therefore pose a more dire need for effective cooling. Saudi Arabia is also deemed one of the most susceptible nations to global warming effects.
Carbon Emissions
Saudi Arabia promised to make the tournament carbon-free, but it still faces danger because its energy consumption of cooling technology may jeopardize the said promise. The indirect emissions that are associated with renewable energy relate to the manufacturing, operation, and maintenance of the cooling systems.
Water Usage
All coolings, particularly evaporative cooling, require fantastic volumes of water. Saudi Arabia lacks this; this increased demand for water will exacerbate an already regional water scarcity and sustainability problem. According to the available statistics, in 2022, the average daily per capita water consumption in Saudi Arabia stood at about 444 liters per person per year, meaning approximately 1,216 liters per person per day.
Health Risks As A Result Of Inefficient Cooling
Cooling technologies offered in the modern era pose health issues related to the effectiveness level, particularly to the players, employees, and spectators. Severe heat illnesses take hours or days before conditions such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and dehydration occur. While many cooling systems utilized at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar received praise, it was claimed that some areas, particularly outdoor ones, had not been cooled enough.
Cost and Logistical Issues
Major installations and maintenance of large cool technologies demand a lot regarding finance and logistics. The country, Saudi Arabia, targets the construction of a new stadium for the World Cup in general infrastructure. Incorporation of cutting-edge cooling technologies will thus add to costs and complexity.
Construction Timelines
This means that the integration of cooling systems within the stadium designs has to be done with extreme caution. Any delay or ineffectiveness in the construction might make the system lose its efficiency, particularly when such a system is made within tight deadlines.
Maintenance and Repairs
The cooling systems need maintenance so that the systems work properly. Breakdowns in the tournament will mean embarrassing situations when the spectators and players face unbearable heat. It is going to be a logistical challenge to ensure performance at various venues simultaneously, which Saudi Arabia may not be geared up for yet.
Conclusion
It is appreciable that Saudi Arabia aspires to host the FIFA World Cup 2034. However, there is one major impediment: the ineffectiveness of current cooling technologies. Making the temperature tolerable for the crowds will not just be a technical issue but also an environmental, financial, and ethical one.
The other problem FIFA faces in hosting this world cup in Saudi Arabia is the further obligations it has towards sustainability and inclusivity. In the times of today, Saudi Arabia lacks sufficient cooling technologies that would contain such a big global affair and thus pose questions to the sustainability of its bid.
