Migrant Workers Say Their Work Made World Cup Happen

Migrant Workers Say Their Work Made World Cup Happen

Thousands of migrant workers took pictures of themselves while watching the opening game of the soccer World Cup in Doha, Qatar

They were watching from a special fan zone near the workers' area outside the city. The area is where hundreds of thousands of Qatar's low-income workers live. There were two large television screens set up, one inside the stadium¹ and one set up outside for the additional² crowds.

Ronald Ssenyondo is 25 years old and from Uganda. He has been working long hours under the heat in Qatar for two years to finish the stadiums for the World Cup. He was cheering for Qatar in the game.

"We are here to enjoy our sweat³ now. I am just overwhelmed⁴ with the things I'm seeing now," he said.

Qatar is a rich country with a large natural gas field. Most of the country's 2.9 million people are foreign workers, from low-paid laborers⁶ to high-powered businessmen.

Human rights groups have called attention to how laborers are treated and their lack of protection⁷. The workers, including the ones who built the stadiums and hotels for the World Cup, are overworked, underpaid, and live in poor conditions.

The Qatari government has passed labor⁵ reforms⁸ that include a minimum⁹ monthly¹⁰ wage of 1,000 Qatari rials or about $275. This amount is more than the laborers usually earn back in their home countries.

A ticket for the game costs on average about $200. For many laborers, that price is out of reach. So, the special fan zone in the industrial area is free for them.

Ali Jammal is a 26-year-old from Ethiopia. He has worked in Qatar for five years. He said, "I'm supporting my sisters and brothers in Ethiopia by sending money back, so I'm coming here because tickets are too much."

During Qatar's game against Ecuador on Sunday, thousands of workers came into the stadium to then be disappointed¹¹ when Ecuador won over Qatar, 2-0. Some workers spoke¹² to Reuters and said that this game would be the only match they could watch all month.

A healthcare worker from Nepal was one of the few women in the stadium watching the match. She said that she would not be able to see any more games because she works¹³ long hours at a hospital.

Mohammad Ansar is from India. He has been working in Qatar since the beginning of the year. He is volunteering with FIFA, the soccer governing body, for two upcoming games so he could watch them in person.

But on Sunday he was at the special fan zone with other workers. He said that he was thankful to be watching on the screen despite Qatar's loss¹⁴.

"With this stadium for free, they're considering poor people also," Ansar said.

Words in This Story

zone — n. an area that is different from other areas in a certain way, especially involving some kinds of rules

match — n. a sports competition or contest between two players or teams

stadium — n. a very large usually roofless building that has a large open area surrounded by many rows of seats and that is used for sports events, concerts, etc.

sweat — n. clear liquid that is produced by skin when the body is hot or nervous

overwhelmed — adj. to cause someone to have too much to deal with; affected¹⁵ by too many things

ticket — n. a piece of paper that allows you to see a show, participate in an event, travel on a vehicle¹⁶, etc.

1 stadium   

n.露天大型运动场

参考例句：

• The new football stadium can hold eighty thousand people.新的足球场可以容纳八万人。
• The stadium is being used for a match.那个露天运动场正在进行一场比赛。

2 additional   

adj.添加的，额外的，另外的

参考例句：

• It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
• I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。

3 sweat   

n.汗，汗水，水珠，焦急；vi.出汗，渗出，冒出水气，结水珠，烦恼，懊恼；vt.使出汗，流出，榨出，使汗流浃背

参考例句：

• She was all of a sweat.她一身大汗。
• She is always all of a sweat before the exam.她临考前总是急得不得了。

4 overwhelmed   

[ overwhelm ]的过去式

参考例句：

• She was overwhelmed by feelings of guilt. 她感到愧疚难当。
• If (one was) overwhelmed by passion, it could lead to serious blunders. 当感情完全淹没理智时，就可能铸成大错。

5 labor   

n.劳动，努力，工作，劳工；分娩；vi.劳动，努力，苦干；vt.详细分析；麻烦

参考例句：

• We are never late in satisfying him for his labor.我们从不延误付给他劳动报酬。
• He was completely spent after two weeks of hard labor.艰苦劳动两周后，他已经疲惫不堪了。

6 laborers   

n.体力劳动者，工人( laborer的名词复数 )；（熟练工人的）辅助工

参考例句：

• Laborers were trained to handle 50-ton compactors and giant cranes. 工人们接受操作五十吨压土机和巨型起重机的训练。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Wage-labour rests exclusively on competition between the laborers. 雇佣劳动完全是建立在工人的自相竞争之上的。 来自英汉非文学 - 共产党宣言

7 protection   

n.保护，防卫，保护制度

参考例句：

• The protection of the country is the duty of everyone.保卫国家是每个人的责任。
• The young in our society need care and protection.我们社会的年轻人需要关怀和照顾。

8 reforms   

改革，改良，改造( reform的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• These reforms are not merely cosmetic. 这些改革不仅仅是装点门面的。
• The reforms marked the successful culmination of a long campaign. 这些改革标志着一场长期运动的胜利结束。

9 minimum   

adj.最低的，最小的；n.最小量，最低限度

参考例句：

• What is the minimum price?最低价是多少？
• Today's minimum temperature is 10℃.今天的最低气温是10℃。

10 monthly   

adj.每月的，持续一个月的，每月发生的；adv.每月，按月； n.月刊；(复数）monthlies:月经

参考例句：

• The rent on his apartment was his biggest monthly expense.他的房租是每个月最大的开支。
• The monthly rent is $15,inclusive of light and water.每月租金15美元，包括水电费在内。

11 disappointed   

adj.失望的，不满意的，不如意的

参考例句：

• He seemed disappointed when the man refused his request.当那个人拒绝了他的要求时他看起来很失望。
• He was disappointed so often that he became hopeless.他屡次失望，以致变为了绝望。

12 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

13 works   

n.作品，著作；工厂，活动部件，机件

参考例句：

• We expect writers to produce more and better works.我们期望作家们写出更多更好的作品。
• The novel is regarded as one of the classic works.这篇小说被公认为是最优秀的作品之一。

14 loss   

n.损失，遗失，失败，输，浪费，错过，[军]伤亡，降低

参考例句：

• His death was a great loss to the country.他的逝世对这个国家是一大损失。
• Because of the continued loss,the factory closed down.由于连续亏损，工厂关闭了。

15 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

16 vehicle   

n.车辆，交通工具，运载工具；媒介，表现手段

参考例句：

• Air is the vehicle of sound.空气是声音传播的媒介。
• The power plant burns used vehicle tyres as fuel.这家电厂用废弃轮胎作燃料。