The football World Cup in Qatar has been criticized for years. Now, a few weeks before the start, the question arises as to whether there should be public viewing. In the big Bavarian cities, it is waved off.
Munich/Augsburg (dpa/lby) - Football fans will hardly have any public viewing opportunities in Bavaria this year at the World Cup. Organizers who have made such offers in the past want to hold back this year. On the one hand, those responsible see little interest in open-air events in the cold months. On the other hand, there is skepticism because of the controversial organizer Qatar.
There will be no corresponding events in the Olympic Park in the state capital this time. Public viewing was never intended for the World Cup this year. "Due to the time in November and December alone, public viewing outdoors makes little sense," says Tobias Kohler, spokesman for the Olympic Park Society. That was decided early on, so the question of a Qatar boycott played no role at all. The indoor spaces in the park are also well rented out, so indoor events are not an option. Kohler also pointed out that interest in public viewing had declined in recent years.
In Augsburg, the city administration itself canceled public viewing, citing the political situation in the host country as the reason. "The serious violations of human rights in the wake of the World Cup in Qatar are not compatible with the values of Augsburg, the city of peace," said Mayor Eva Weber (CSU). For this reason, the city does not organize any public viewing. The Swabian city of 300,000 inhabitants has been calling itself a city of peace for decades and even has its own city holiday in summer, which is unique in Germany.
In Nuremberg, the organizer werk:b events, which has been organizing public viewings for more than 15 years, announced that they also wanted to do without for these reasons. "We support the DFB team 100 percent. But we in no way support human rights violations in the host country or the treatment of guest workers there," said the company. It is important to stand up for values and to set an example.
According to the Nuremberg city administration, no other party has so far submitted an application for public viewing on public land. This was also reported by the administration in Regensburg. In addition, the city of Regensburg itself is not planning any events.
On November 20th, the World Cup begins in Qatar. For the first time, a final round will be played in winter, which causes displeasure among many. Above all, however, the tournament is criticized because the emirate is accused of massive violations of human rights in the construction of the stadiums and the organization. In particular, those responsible for the World Cup are accused of inhumane treatment of guest workers. In France, too, several large cities had already initiated a boycott of public viewing events.
