Construction workers are putting the final touches to Bangkok’s showpiece venue for the 2012 Fifa Futsal World Cup after its construction fell behind schedule.
The 12,000 all-seater capacity Bangkok Futsal Arena in Nong Chok is due to be handed over to 2012 Fifa Futsal World Cup organisers in less than two weeks. Seats and a scoreboard were being installed today, and the area outside the stadium is being developed.
Construction on the site was initially delayed because of heavy rain in October 2011 that brought flooding to parts of Bangkok, with further problems caused by more heavy rain in recent weeks and the threat of the Gaemi weather system hitting Thailand’s capital.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Friday promised no more delays in construction before the handover to Fifa on Oct 21.
“All main construction has finished. Now workers are working only on details,” the governor said. “I can confirm that Fifa will get the stadium on Oct 21.”
Fifa officials will arrive in Bangkok on Oct 20 for a handing-over ceremony and decide whether the arena will be ready for the competition by Oct 25.
Thailand hosts the 24-nation tournament from Nov 1-18.
The Bangkok Futsal Arena had been earmarked as the competition’s main venue but the delays in building it prompted Fifa to order a switch to the 15,000-capacity Indoor Stadium Hua Mak, where the opening ceremony will now take place on Nov 1.
Other venues for the tournament are Nimitbutr Gymnasium in Bangkok and Chatichai Hall in Nakhon Ratchasima province.
Indoor Stadium Hua Mak, Nimitbutr Gymnasium and Chatichai Hall will host the group phase and round-of-16 matches, with the Bangkok Futsal Arena scheduled to host its first game on Nov 14 when the tournament reaches the quarter-final stage.
Thailand are in Group A with Paraguay, Ukraine and Costa Rica. The hosts will take on Costa Rica on the tournament’s opening day.
