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Few outside the FIFA executive committee realised that Qatar had probably enlisted the help of the family of Hans Christian Andersen until the latest fairytale for the tiny Arab nation unfolded in Zurich last week.
However, it was more like the Brothers Grimm in the US as disbelieving heads shook after Qatar was announced as the host of the 2022 World Cup Finals.
Fans waiting to celebrate in the Newseum (News-Museum) in Washington were left feeling nauseous as Uncle Sam was upstaged by a bid unrivalled in imagination and innovation.
When the announcement was made a cacophony of car horns could be heard across the water to Bahrain - soon to be linked by the Friendship Causeway - as detailed in Qatar's fabled 'Bid Book'.
Zinedine Zidane, the French footballer of Algerian origin, who acted as an ambassador for Qatar's bid, said it was a sign that 'the Arab world is emerging'. And, there was a simple message from Qatar's Emir, Shaikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani: "Thank you for believing in change," he said.
Qatar has overcome larger obstacles than a stretch of sea to secure the hosting of one of the largest sporting spectacles in the world.
FIFA themselves state that no host city can have more than three stadia. However, Qatar will have 12 stadia spread over seven cities, meaning they must also build six cities in the next 12 years. At least they will be close to each other and easily accessible once the new interlinking high speed rail-link has been built.
The main reason for FIFA applying this limit is to ensure the game leaves a legacy. With a population the size of Qatar this would be impossible. Qatar has overcome this with an innovative flat pack design and has promised to ship eight of the new stadia to underdeveloped countries that cannot afford to build their own.
Rumours that Ikea are hoping to sponsor these are said to be, well, just rumours.
Visiting FIFA inspectors were met in October by a 500-seat indoor five-a-side arena that showcased the air-controlled environment in which the players will compete. Yet FIFA's rules demand matches to be played in open air. The innovators behind Qatar's bid will therefore aim to generate a three-metre bank of cool air for the players and lucky few spectators.
Qatar will be hoping that, by the time 2022 arrives, their footballing academy ASPIRE will have produced a crop of new players that will help them rise above their current world ranking of 108. They are the first host of a World Cup Finals to have never previously qualified since 1934. Qatar is also the smallest nation to have ever been awarded the finals since Uruguay hosted the first in 1930.
All of these hurdles resulted in Qatar being nominated as 'High Risk' by the FIFA inspection team. However, with the Great Bear of Russia being awarded the 2018 World Cup Finals, FIFA will be taking the premier football competition into new frontiers and transporting it from the largest geographical host to the smallest and perhaps the coldest to the hottest!
Under proposals submitted to FIFA Qatar will be renovating three stadia (only built to host the 2006 Asian Games) and building nine new ones, including the 86,000-seater Losail Stadium, at an anticipated total cost of $4 billion (BD1.51 billion). These will all be climate controlled and zero-carbon emitting.
In addition, the country whose economy is expected to grow at 15 per cent in 2011 and 21 per cent the following year, has promised to invest a further $25 billion to enhance road, rail and air links, particularly with neighbouring countries such as Bahrain.
It is anticipated that 400,000 fans will want to visit to watch the 32 nations participate. Qatar has promised 95,000 hotel rooms to meet demand and hoteliers in Bahrain will be rubbing their hands with glee for the likely spin-offs.
Yet, while Qatar may have suddenly been thrust into the eyes of the watching media it has, for a long time, been systematically supporting international sporting events. From the Tennis Open in 1993 attended by Becker and Edberg to the impeccably-organised World Youth Cup in 1995 and the more recent 2006 Asian Games, Qatar has continually invested in hosting sporting events of world stature.
Those who have visited will realise that the Arab nations make wonderful warm and welcoming hosts.
While both elected hosts appear on the surface to offer contrasting tournaments, it is what lies beneath that perhaps provides a clue to their success - oil and gas.
It is the petro-dollars that has helped both countries buy their success. However, while Russia has to contend with vast distances between venues, Qatar's main aim will be to pump cold air as effectively as it does oil and gas.
