There were several problems with the Fifa Under 17 World Cup tournament.
One fallout of the free-ticket policy was disorganisation. The tickets I bought online for a game in Dubai were given away before I got there, and I was handed five random tickets and told I should be happy to receive them.
The biggest concern though was security. As we went to attend the final match between Nigeria and Mexico, we were told that somehow several thousand Nigerian fans had jumped a wall and packed the stadium. As a result, thousands of fans who had actual seats and paid money to attend were not allowed in. Never mind that the entire upper deck was empty.
Security was also limited and there was apparently no attempt at correcting the mistake of letting in all those gate crashers.
At some point, when the security personnel started letting in some of those who had been waiting, hundreds of fans rushed to the gates, stopping many of those patient fans with kids from entering.
David Osborn, Abu Dhabi
Short-term goal can save one from disappointment
Hareth Al Bustani's blogpost Job situation: don't be another brick in the wall (November 5) is brilliant.
It illustrates the anger and despair many feel post-university.
I can certainly sympathise with the author’s viewpoint of pseudointellectual university modules. I can vividly remember the lecturer explaining to us what “animal geographies” were and wondering what I was doing there.
I would like to point out, though, that it is not necessarily important to have your dream job. I think many people would find that they would be disappointed once they achieved their goal having built it up so heavily.
Personally I would subscribe to the completion of short-term goals, where a career is built as you go. Otherwise you could be left despairing, having not reached the “top”, or even find yourself disillusioned if you get there.
If you do have a dream then fair enough, but panic not if you are bereft of one. I must admit this way of thinking was introduced to me by the comedian/ musician Tim Minchin, but his words are perfectly suited to those in our position.
I’m sure I will enjoy reading your previous articles and look forward to more great journalism in the future.
Matthew Colton, Dubai
Ataturk lives in the heart of every Turk
Turks at home and abroad paid homage to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the secular and democratic Turkish Republic, yesterday by observing silence for one minute. Ataturk died in Istanbul on November 10, 1938.
Commemoration ceremonies were also held in all public and private schools, universities and institutions in Turkey.
This remarkable soldier-statesman of the Turkish Republic, who had a rare foresight, carried out incredible political, social and economic reforms.
He emancipated women who were separated from each other by religion and politics, abolished Khilafat – the office or jurisdiction of a caliph – and advocated the compulsory use of the Turkish language. I guess no one other than Ataturuk could so quickly change a country from a worn-out state to a strong, modern nation. He was an extraordinarily talented leader.
This glorious commander has earned the respect and trust of each and every Turk during his relatively short lifetime (he was 57 when he passed away).
He is loved and admired by all those people in the world craving for freedom.
Turks are honoured that such a great man was born in their country.
Gaye Caglayan Budak, Abu Dhabi
Hospitals lack the human element
I am commenting on the news item Abu Dhabi's Dh700m 'five-star' hospital to finally open (November 8).
It’s great to see such specialised hospitals. These days, however, hospitals and health facilities need to have something more than infrastructure.
They need people who have humanity and who can properly diagnose medical conditions and treat them.
Many hospitals just want to make money. Since health care is covered by insurance, they just want to double the treatment, which leaves the patient exhausted.
Mudassir Ahmed Ali Hashmi, Saudi Arabia
