Reef Worlds' proposed US$30m underwater TV studio to become aquarium after 2022 World Cup
by Tom Anstey | 20 May 2015
Qatari officials are looking into the possibility of building a first-of-its-kind underwater TV studio for use during the 2022 World Cup, with the intention of converting it into an aquarium attraction after the event.
Patric Douglas, CEO of artificial reef and aquarium design firm Reef Worlds, says the company is creating plans for a US$30m (€27m, £19.3m) underwater broadcast studio on the ocean floor.
Douglas added that Qatar World Cup authorities like the preliminary designs and also the concept of broadcasting the World Cup from an underwater location.
Funding would be covered by broadcasters eager to use the unique filming location as a base when the emirate hosts the World Cup in 2022, according to Douglas.
A decision on whether or not the project will become a reality will be made in July or August this year. Reef Worlds has extensive experience working on underwater installations, with its most notable project in the Middle East being the upcoming Pearl of Dubai project on Dubai’s The World Islands peninsula.
Qatar World Cup authorities liked the preliminary designs and also enjoyed 'the notion of doing the World Cup underwater with sharks swimming around'
Qatari officials are looking into the possibility of building a first-of-its-kind underwater TV studio for use during the 2022 World Cup, with the intention of converting it into an aquarium attraction after the event. Patric Douglas, CEO of artificial reef and aquarium design firm Reef Worlds, says the company is creating plans for a US$30m (€27m, £19.3m) underwater broadcast studio on the ocean floor. Douglas added that Qatar World Cup
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"Culture is the beating heart of this project"
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