It is a well-known fact that the football World Cup in Qatar messes up many appointment calendars. The Bundesliga soccer teams, for example, are faced with the task of bridging a ten-week winter break for the first time. What is new, however, is that athletes from other disciplines are also suffering from the unusual scheduling of the major event. Specifically, it’s about the wheelchair basketball players, whose world championship was supposed to take place from November 16th to 27th in Dubai. It is now clear that nothing will come of this.
This was announced by the World Wheelchair Basketball Federation (IWBF) in a press release at the beginning of September. He cites the overlap in time with the World Cup, which begins in Qatar on November 20, as the reason. The government and the Dubai Sports Council approached the association with concerns about safety, health and capacity. Ultimately, therefore, the decision was made to move the tournament to June 2023.
At first glance, Dubai has nothing to do with the World Cup in Qatar, after all the metropolis is located in another country on the Persian Gulf; the United Arab Emirates. However, Dubai is just over an hour’s flight from tiny Qatar, which in turn makes it a popular destination for football tourists who have been unable to find accommodation in the World Cup host country. The German national team fan club has also announced that it will stay in Dubai. You will commute to the international matches by plane.
One could have expected that, national player Miller criticizes the world association
“The overlap was clear from the start,” says national wheelchair basketball player and athlete spokeswoman Mareike Miller. Your anger applies primarily to your own association. Dubai was awarded the World Cup at the end of 2019, and the IWBF announced the exact dates in January 2022. It has been clear since 2015 that the footballers will play their tournament this winter. “I don’t know what led to the thought that the World Cup had to take place during this period,” Miller criticized the original appointment. She has little understanding for this, as well as for the very short-term cancellation a good two and a half months before the start.
The consequences of the decision are far-reaching. Not only that the Bundesliga had a month free of play, a World Cup is also preceded by other long-term plans. “Especially in the women’s division we don’t really have any full professionals,” explains Miller, “so many have planned their jobs or studies in such a way that they can take part in the World Cup.” In addition, there is the training control, which started from the peak in November. “With gallows humor I could now say that we are used to postponements from the Paralympics in Tokyo,” says Miller: “But of course it’s actually a complete catastrophe.”
The poor overall picture that the association gives around this World Cup is also reflected in the rescheduling of the tournament. In view of a European Championship in August, it seems at least questionable how non-professionals should take part in a World Championship shortly beforehand in June (5th-21st). She also knows “some fans who have booked non-cancellable flights,” says Miller. They were now trying to change their travel plans for a lot of money.
In any case, joining the national team fan club instead does not seem to be an option for wheelchair basketball fans.
