Peace proposed theme for 2022

Qatar and South Korea's bids to host the 2022 World Cup are campaigns based on bringing peace to their regions, Asian Football Confederation President Mohamed Bin Hammam said.

"I understand the reason behind the (Korean) bid, it is a noble reason. The concept is one of bringing peace to the Korean peninsula through football," Bin Hammam told reporters yesterday.

"For Dr Chung and myself, the first priority is to bring the World Cup to Asia. Who gets it is secondary," Qatari Bin Hammam said.

"The Middle East also has the legitimate right to seek peace through football and an event like the World Cup can replace the sorry story of wars."

Australia, England, Japan, Netherlands and Belgium, Russia, Spain and Portugal, and United States are bidding to host the 2018 or 2022 World Cups with Qatar and South Korea bidding to host only the latter tournament.

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